The Independent World
· collected 2026-08-20 · by Anna Uras and Mirko Miorelli
Varenne, the Italian horse widely regarded as the greatest trotter of all time, has died at 31 after suffering a heart attack. He leaves behind over 2,000 offspring, with his semen sold worldwide for between €10,000 and €20,000 per cover during his reproductive career. During his five-year racing career from 1998 to 2002, Varenne achieved 62 victories in 73 races and earned over €6 million in prize money. The article is a straightforward report on the passing of a renowned sports figure, with quotes from his driver Giampaolo Minnucci providing insight into Varenne's accomplishments and fame.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Varenne, an Italian trotting horse, has died at the age of 31 after a record-breaking career. Born on May 19, 1995, in Ferrara, Italy, Varenne was known as "the Captain" and earned over €6 million in prize money during his five-year career from 1998 to 2002. He achieved 62 victories in 73 races, including a record 53 Grand Prix wins, and fathered more than 2,000 offspring. Varenne was not only a champion on the track but also a celebrity off it, appearing on TV shows and even bowing to crowds at Milan's San Siro stadium in 2002. His driver, Giampaolo Minnucci, described him as "a Ferrari with a brain."
Written for “Death of Famous Horse Varenne” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 1469 · logged 2026-08-21
Varenne, the Italian horse who transcended sport during a record-smashing career as the world's greatest trotter, has died of a heart attack aged 31.
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who → transcend → attack
A symbol of elegance and athletic prowess, he even appeared as a celebrity on popular TV shows.
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he → appear → shows
He leaves behind a wide community of adoring fans in Italy and abroad, as well as an estate of over 2,000 offspring.
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He → leave → offspring
Trotting, which is especially popular in France, Finland, Italy and North America, is a form of racing where horses pull a lightweight carriage called a "sulky", manned by a driver while maintaining a specific two-beat gait called a "trot".
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horses → pull → gait
During a five-year career spanning 1998 to 2002, Varenne—widely known as "the Captain"—achieved 62 victories in 73 races, including 53 Grand Prix wins, earning over €6 million in prize money.
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Varenne → span → money
"He was a Ferrari with a brain," Varenne's loyal driver, Giampaolo Minnucci, told Italian daily La Stampa in an interview last month.
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driver → tell → interview
At the height of his fame in 2002, Varenne thrilled spectators at a presentation of horses and drivers at Milan's San Siro stadium by lowering his head to touch his muzzle with his right front leg, bowing to the public.
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Varenne → thrill → public
He became the only horse ever named Horse of the Year in Italy, France and the United States, sweeping all three honours in 2001, and was inducted into the United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2010.
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He → become → 2010
From 2004 to 2024, his semen was sold worldwide at between €10,000 and €20,000 per cover, yielding more than 2,000 horses.
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semen → sell → horses
His first son, Italo Del Ronco, fetched €150,000 ($173,580.00).
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son → fetch → 150,000
Born near the north-eastern Italian city of Ferrara on May 19, 1995, he took his name from the Rue de Varenne in Paris, where Italy's embassy in France is situated.
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embassy → bear → France
Acquired by his long-standing owner, Enzo Giordano, after his debut race in 1998, he rapidly rose to stardom through a streak of wins, coming to be widely recognised as the greatest trotter of all time.
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he → acquire → time
He established a world record over the mile distance in 2001 and a 1,000-metre track record in 2002.
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He → establish → 2002
At the 2002 World Cup in Vincennes, he set an unbeaten speed record for 2100 metres, taking the title despite a broken sulky wheel.
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he → set → wheel
"He toured the world, flew more often than a pilot and received honours from Pope Wojtyla and Italy's President Ciampi," Minnucci said.
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Minnucci → tour → Wojtyla
