by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

One of the greatest trotters ever, Mack Lobell, turns 30 Monday (April 28) and was celebrated at Menhammar Farms in Sweden, where he has been retired.

Barbara Livingston photo

Mack Lobell, in the barn where he lives with one of the Menhammar staff that cares for him, Anette Jonsson. This photo was taken in July 2013.

Mack Lobell was an outstanding trotter, who not only won the the Hambletonian, but also went on to win the Elitlopp in Sweden as a 4-year-old, driven by John Campbell. At that time he was trained by Chuck Sylvester and owned by Lou Guida, but after the victory, Mack Lobell was sold to John Erik Magnusson’s ACL Farm of Sweden.

Mack Lobell managed to win another Elitlopp and for several years was a dominant trotter on the European trotting scene. When he finished his career, he had raced 94 times, won 71 races, and had earnings of $3.4 million.

He went to stud and has proved to be a great grandsire. Top trotters like Commander Crowe, Malabar Circle As and Jaded all have Mack Lobell as grandsire.