[3] Poju was resold a few times more, always for a higher price, until he was bought by smallholder Aapeli Miettinen's son Väinö for 38,000 Marks.

[3][6] The father wondered aloud why Väinö had bothered to bring such a "fur purse" all the way from the city.

[3] However, on good pasture, the barely walking Poju's condition soon improved, and Aapeli Miettinen traded him from his son for a five-year-old mare and 10,000 Marks.

When Reipas was enrolled for the highest level heats of Kuopio in the autumn of 1953, the talents of the young and unknown gelding were greatly in doubt.

This record made the six-year-old Reipas the third tähtijuoksija, "Star Runner"[7] in Finland, and along with the stallion Akapeetus, the youngest horse to ever attain this title.

[3][6] The rumours were cut short when Reipas' lines were investigated and his breeding traced from the start of the purchase chain.

[5] Reipas' winnings do not include, for instance, the large purses of the Kuninkuusravit Finnhorse championships, because as a gelding he was not qualified to take part.

One of the best known offers, five trotters and a horse transport car, was made by Kalle Hagert, known as the "Gypsy King" to his contemporaries.

[8] Even after having retired, Reipas remained brisk, true to his name, and at the age of 20 years still brought home winnings from a race.

Turned out on pasture, he once heard a neighbour playing the accordion, and thinking a heat was about to commence, trotted in a circle on his own.

Pentti Miettinen, groom to Reipas for 15 years, described him as "extremely ardent, sensitive, and gentle-mouthed".