The European harness racing featured event on August 12th was the Aby Stora Prix with two heats (post positions reversed) contested each over 1640 meters autostart. Each heat carried a 400,000SEK purse with the final purse being 1,200,000SEK.

Midnight Hour (6g Diesel Don-Quanne Kemp-Express Ride) took the two-horse raceoff in well-rated fashion timed in 1.16.9kr. Iikka Normonen drove the winner for trainer Ossi Nurmonen as that team bested Muscle Hustle (4m Muscle Mass-Crown Laurel-Cantab Hall) driven by trainer Robert Bergh. Muscle Hustle won the second heat timed in 1.11kr over Turno d’Azzurra (5m Love You) and third finishing Volstead. Midnight Hour won the first heat timed in 1.10.7kr over Turno d’Azzurra and BBS Sugarlight. 

Aby Stora Prix organizers are reported to be considering a change to one heat over an extended distance in the future, in an effort to attract some of the better campaigners from France.

Other winners of note on the August 12 Aby card included Diamanten (4m Adrian Chip-Iata Kill-Ata Star L) for Robert Bergh timed in 1.12.5kr in an event worth 200,000SEK to the winner. Later the Lyon Grand Prix for 500,000SEK for first place went to 12/1 Spitcam Jubb (6g Campbell Hall) timed in 1.14.6kr over 2140 meters and driven by Peter Ingves.

Carla de Felliere (5f Quido du Goutier-Toccata du Bouffey) took Cabourg’s August 11 Quinte+ Prix Bruno Coquatrix (purse €45,000, 2750 meters, 14 starters) timed in 1.14kr for driver Anthony Barrier. J.P. Marmion  owns and trains this mare that was off at 10.5/1. 3.6/1 Bolt (6m Prince Gede-Souvola) secured second for breeder/owner/trainer/driver Christophe Gallier, ahead of 3/1 Comte du Vivier (5g Prince Gede-Jonque du Vivier) driven by Dominik Locqueneux.

At Cagnes-sur-Mer was the Prix des Blevets (purse €46,000, 2925 meters, 13 European starters). Baby Lou Max (6g Gazouillis-Kamatie) scored timed in 1.13.8kr for Nicolas Mortagne. Zonguldak (8g Love You-Heartenings Crown) was second for Christophe Martens. That day at Enghien was the Prix de l’Odeon (purse €43,000, 2875 meters) and Erable du Vivier (3g Pine Chip Wood-Tendre du Vivier) was victorious for Clement Duvaldestin timed in 1.19.7kr.

History of Aby Stora Prix since 1976

Year	Winner	HER	Country	Time	Father	Driver	Second	Third
2016	A Guy of Héripré	M. 8	la France	1'11 "	Orlando Vici	Björn Goop	Propulsion
2015	Support Justice	M.6	Norway	1'11 "6	Kadabra	Geir-Vegard Gundersen	Västerbo Highflyer
2014	Order Crowe	H.11	Sweden	1'12 "1	Juliano Star	Örjan Kihlström	Quid Pro Quo
2013	Sebastian K.	M.7	Sweden	1'11 "5	Korean	Jorma Kontio	Save the Quick
2012	Sebastian K.	M.6	Sweden		Korean	Åke Svanstedt	(No finals)
2011	Fast Lebel	H.6	la France		Ginger Somolli	Eric Raffin	(No finals)
2010	Lisa America	F.5	Italy		Varenne	Torbjörn Jansson	(No finals)
2009	Torvald Palema	M. 8	Sweden		Alf Palema	Åke Svanstedt	(No finals)
2008	Garland Cronos	H.5	Italy	1'13 "1	Viking Kronos	Lutfi Kolgjini	The Admiral Mauzun
2007	Giant Superman	H.8	Sweden	1'13 "5	Giant Force	Fredrik B Larsson	Bird of Fire
2006	Red Chili Pirat	M.7	Sweden		Giant Chill	Örjan Kihlström	(No finals)
2005	Gidde Palema	M.10	Sweden	1'13 "3	Alf Palema	Åke Svanstedt	Steinlager
2004	Steinlager	M.6	Norway	1'13 "5	Good As Gold	Per Oleg Midtfjeld	Infant of Bossis	Giant Superman
2003	Gidde Palema	M. 8	Sweden	1'12 "1	Alf Palema	Åke Svanstedt	Couch Doctor	Scarlet Knight
2002	Victory Tilly	cH7	Sweden	1'13 "5	Quick Pay	Stig Johansson	Legendary Lover K.	Royal Tin
2001	Royal Tin	H.9	Sweden	1'13 "1	Ulf of Ombrée	Jorma Kontio	Com Hector	Victory Tilly
2000	Victory Tilly	H.5	Sweden	1'13 "3	Quick Pay	Stig Johansson	Frisky Frazer	Gidde Palema
1999	General of Pommeau	M.5	la France	1'14 "4	Sébrazac	Jules Lepennetier	Edu's Speedy	Rite On Line
1998	Rite On Line	M.7	Norway	1'14 "3	Supergill	Atle Hamre	Ezira Josselyn	Zoogin
1997	Gentle Star	M.5	Norway	1'15 "	Speedy Tomali	Gunleif Tollefsen	Rite On Line	Zoogin
1996	Zoogin	M.7	Sweden	1'14 "3	Zoot Suit	Åke Svanstedt	His Majesty	Abo Volo
1995	Zoogin	M.6	Sweden	1'13 "6	Zoot Suit	Åke Svanstedt	copiad	His Majesty
1994	Houston Laukko	M.6	Finland	1'13 "8	Choctaw Brave	Jorma Kontio	copiad	Sea Cove
1993	Queen L	F.7	Sweden	1'13 "2	Crowntron	Stig H Johansson	Sea Cove	Nordin Hanover
1992	Sea Cove	M.6	Canada	1'14 "5	Bonefish	Jos Verbeeck	Kosar	Somollison
1991	Prince Mystic	M.5	United States	1'14 "	Mystic Park	Atle Hamre	Peace Corps	Nordin Hanover
1990	Dream of Udon	M.7	la France	1'14 "	Éjakval	Yves Dreux	Jet Ribb	Red Rhone
1989	Quellou	cH7	la France	1'14 "9	Bellouet	Pierre Levesque	Napoletano	Lord Quick
1988	ourasi	M. 8	la France	1'14 "5	Greyhound	Jean-René Gougeon	Sugarcane Hanover	Napoletano
1987	Jet Ribb	H.5	Sweden	1'14 "8	Count's Pride	Hans G. Eriksson	Big Spender	Grades Singing
1986	Utah Bulwark	F.7	Sweden	1'14 "3	Utah IX	Stig Johansson	Grades Singing	Hallon Brunn
1985	Minou of the Dungeon	M.7	la France	1'15 "4	Quioco	Olle Goop	Ellizar H.	Noble Asset
1984	The Onion	M.5	Sweden	1'14 "8	Quick Pay	Stig Johansson	Legolas	Shane T. Hanover
1983	Legolas	H.5	Sweden	1'14 "6	Glasgow	Thomas Nilsson	Snack Bar	Ideal of the Gazeau
1982	Ideal of the Gazeau	M. 8	la France	1'15 "6	Alexis III	Eugene Lefèvre	Nino Blazing	Keystone Patriot
nineteen eighty one	Ideal of the Gazeau	M.7	la France	1'18 "4	Alexis III	Eugene Lefèvre	Mustard	Dartster F
1980	Express Gaxe	M.6	Sweden	1'15 "	Express Rodney	Gunnar Axelryd	Lionel Minbar	Ianthin
1979	Hadol of the Vivier	M.6	la France	1'15 "5	Mitsouko	Jean-René Gougeon	Little Evander	Tarok
1978	Charm Asserdal	F.5	Sweden	1'16 "9	Train Bloc	Heikki Korpi	Express Gaxe	Little Evander
1977	Micko Tilly	M.7	Sweden	1'16 "3	Frances Nibs	Olle Lindqvist	Opal H	Duke Iran
1976	Dines P	F.6	la France	1'18 "9	Seddouk	Michel Feuillet	Arbont	Clissa

Thomas H. Hicks