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Jan-Olov Persson on the pain and all the memories after Järvsöfaks
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Superstar Järvsöfaks is dead.
The iconic horse turned 26 and cost more than SEK 21 million.
On Monday he had to fall asleep.
– Clearly it was not an easy decision to make, says coach Jan-Olov Persson to Trav365.
Horse of the year three years in a row. The cold blood of this year, eleven years in a row. World record holder. Over SEK 21 million in prize money.
That’s a bit of what Järvsöfaks accomplished on the competition oval.
On Monday, the iconic 26-year-old horse fell asleep.
– It was his state of health that decided, but it is clear that it was not an easy decision to make, says Jan-Olov Persson, notably taken to Trav365.
“It means a lot”
Hagmyren’s trainer Jan-Olov Persson has been on the entire journey with Järvsöfaks as a breeder, owner and trainer.
– For cold-blooded sport, it has meant an enormous amount. It was a period when the Norwegians knocked us down and we didn’t win an international match in ten years before Järvsöfaks, he says.
The importance of Jan-Olov Persson’s own coaching career cannot be overstated, according to the coach.
– For my coach movement, it has meant everything. I bought the land here in 1995, Järvsöfaks was born in 1994. I built the barn in 1998 and have continued building. It wouldn’t have been possible without Järvsöfaks, says Persson.
What do you think made so many play in Sweden and outside the country’s borders?
– His charisma and that he competed for so many years. He won 48 V75 races and it’s clear you take that horse seriously.
“That night everything was fine”
When did you feel that it was something really special?
– It was after having worn it about five times. When you became a trainer, I expected to have a good horse and maybe run a million. To be that good, get over every fantasy you can have.
On July 12, 2005, Järvsöfaks put the finishing touches on Gävletravet. The iconic horse set a new world record of 1.17.9 in the 1,640 meter distance. The previous record was 1.18.6.
– I was hoping to be the first to drive under 1.20 during cold blood, but Spikeld was the first. Instead, I became the first to drive under 1.18. There were many coincidences that were true. I had been in good shape before and we have tried to break the world record several times before. But that night, it was all one hundred percent true. I remember there were a lot of people in the place that night and afterwards it was a relief that we broke the record, recalls Jan-Olov Persson.
What do you think were your main strengths on the competition oval?
– He had enormous strength and had the ability to maintain speed at such a long distance.
The first time Jan-Olov Persson noticed the resurrection and popularity of Järvsöfaks was when he was five years old in 2000 at Färjestad in Karlstad.
– There were a lot of people in the place and everyone started clapping when Järvsöfaks and I warmed up. I turned around and wondered why they were clapping. There were no other horses nearby, then I realized it was for us.
Walk to the castle
It wasn’t just on the jogging track that Järvsöfaks was popular. He has participated in the Globo Sports Gala, he has greeted the fans outside the Solvalla entrance during the Elite Race, he has been at the Rondo bar in Gothenburg, under the Eiffel Tower in Paris, he participated in “Filip & Fredrik” and mounted with the mounted high guard.
– I mounted it then and we rode with the mounted high guard from K1 to the castle. It is the only civilian horse that has been allowed to do so. I did my military service in K1 and had ridden it five times before, but getting there with Järvsöfaks was great.
“I had a nice retirement life”
What have you done in recent years at your home on the farm?
Jan-Olov Persson is silent for a moment to find the words …
… – He’s been walking here on the grass outside the kitchen window the whole time … He fell on the grass and a ligament in his hip fell off four or five years ago. After that, he had to stop covering himself. But he has been fine, his health has deteriorated towards the end and he has not been allowed to be in front of any carriages. You’ve had a good retirement life.
Right now, Jan-Olov is building a memorial grove in the Järvsöfak garden, which will be a place where the public will go. The funeral will also take place with those who want to be present.
– I’m looking for a priest right now. We have closed some of their pastures and are now building a memorial grove. There we will have a place where the urn with a tombstone will be deposited. He will lie there together with Faksen J: r. It will be open to everyone to get there and sit on the bench and remember it. There will be a letter stating what you have accomplished. We have also built a hall with space for 50 guests with lots of photos and memorabilia from Järvsöfaks, Jan-Olov Persson concludes.
The iconic horse was elected to the race’s Hall of Fame in 2013. Järvsöfaks has been named an Honorary Race Ambassador and has a street named after him in Hudiksvall.
1 of 7 | Photo: RUBEN ANDREÉN
Järvsöfaks room.
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