Varenne (foaled in Copparo, Italy, 19 May 1995) is a dark bay racing trotter by Waikiki Beach out of Ialmaz by Zebu.

He is the sole European trotter to win the Breeders Crown (2001) in the US,[1][2][3] where he set the world speed record ( 1 mile in 1.51.1 - average per kilometer 1.09.1).

This was his only race in Finland, the home country of his trainer, Jori Turja and keeper, Miss Iina Rastas.

His most prestigious victories include the Prix d'Amérique, Elitloppet, Gran Premio della Lotteria and Breeders Crown.

In 2010, Varenne was inducted into the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in New York, an honor typically restricted to American horses only.

In May 2011, Kanal 75, the Swedish company that broadcasts harness racing on TV4 Sport in Sweden, asked 38 international media to name the best horse of all time.

His vet called him an "intelligent horse with incredible patience.” Varenne also raised money for disabled children.

The proceeds of his 2002 victory at the “Premio Mario Locatelli” went entirely to charity for the Carlo Gnocchi Italian center.

[4] Varenne, the offspring of American stallion Waikiki Beach and Italian mare Ialmaz, was born at Zenzalino horse breeding centre in Copparo, Italy, on May 19, 1995.

With Italian driver Giampaolo Minnucci, Varenne won Premio Mirtillo at Tor di Valle, Rome, on April 30.

In October, at the Daglfing track in Munich, Germany, Varenne won Preis der Besten against older and more experienced competitors.

After the win in Gran Premio delle Nazioni at San Siro, Milan, Turja and company again turned their attention abroad.

On December 26, Varenne wrapped up his four-year-old season by winning Prix Ariste Hémard at Vincennes, Paris.

Later that month, he failed to win perhaps the most prestigious one-mile harness race in Europe - Elitloppet at Solvalla in Stockholm, Sweden.

After returning to his winning ways in Elite-Rennen at Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Varenne crossed the Atlantic for his first journey to North America.

[2][13] The first stop was Meadowlands Racetrack, New Jersey, and the biggest aged harness event in North America: the $1 million Breeders Crown Open Trot on July 28.

After Varenne's sweep of the three greatest European races (he was the first horse to accomplish this in 34 years[14]) the expectations were enormous.

The competition consisted of some of the best American trotters, e.g. Dream Vacation, Plesac, Fool's Goal, and Magician.

[4] Varenne took the lead at an early stage in Prix d'Amérique in 2002 and grabbed the second biggest prize cheque of his career: €400,000.

In Gran Premio Mario Locatelli at San Siro, Milan, for the first time since his debut, Varenne was driven by a driver other than Minnucci.

[27] Among the offspring born 2004-2005 are Swedish star mare Lie Detector (SEK 4 886 131) with several wins in classic races to her name.

Italian mare Lana Del Rio has won a number of Group 1 races, e.g. Gran Premio Nazionale.