Columbus, OH — Swedish trotting publications have announced that Hall of Famer Olle Goop has died at age 78. Mr. Goop became best known in North America when he drove the older trotting mare Grades Singing to victories in the 1987 and 1989 Breeders Crown Mare Trot.

Born Aug. 13, 1943, in Mora, Sweden, according to Scandinavian records, Mr. Goop compiled 7,696 wins as a trainer and 6,744 as a driver. He won 66 driving titles in Sweden during his career but was known as a consummate horseman. Between training and driving, he won almost all of Europe’s trotting classics. He was inducted into the Swedish trotting Hall of Fame in 2013.

Mr. Goop’s son, Bjorn, followed in his father’s footsteps and has become one of the preeminent drivers in Europe and represented Sweden in the World Driving Championship.