Varenne was born in Italy to an American father, so in a way, he was also a little Italian American. The greatest Italian trotter of all time died on August 18, 2026, at the age of 31. He was born on May 19, 1995, at the Zenzalino breeding farm in Copparo, near Ferrara, in Emilia Romagna. His sire was Waikiki Beach, an American stallion, while his dam, Ialmaz, was Italian.
If America was part of Varenne’s bloodline, however, Italy shaped the champion he became. Purchased by Neapolitan owner Enzo Giordano for 180 million lire, Varenne was trained by Finland’s Jori Turja and driven throughout the most glorious years of his career by Roman driver Giampaolo Minnucci. His preparation took place at Tor San Lorenzo, on the Lazio coast near Rome.
Italy soon discovered it had an extraordinary champion. At three, Varenne won the Italian Trotting Derby in Rome. At the Agnano racetrack in Naples, he won the prestigious Gran Premio Lotteria three times. From his Italian base, “Il Capitano” then set out to conquer the world.
Varenne won 62 of his 73 races and earned more than €6 million, an extraordinary sum for harness racing. He twice captured the Prix d’Amérique in Paris and twice won Sweden’s Elitloppet, establishing himself as an international sporting icon.
His relationship with America was particularly meaningful. In 2001, Varenne crossed the Atlantic and won the Breeders Crown Open Trot in the United States in a record 1:51.1. His American triumph helped earn him the Dan Patch Award as Older Male Trotter of the Year.
In 2010, America honored him again with induction into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame.
Born in Italy to an American father, raised and transformed into a champion in Italy, and celebrated in the United States, Varenne’s extraordinary life was, in its own unique way, also a beautiful Italian American story.
