Finnish harness racing has received an anonymous donation of €1m. Thanks to this development, Suomen Hippos, the central organisation for Finnish trotting sports and horse breeding, will develop a Trotting Sports Support and Development Fund.
The funds will support the long-term development of the sport, including initiatives for young harness racing athletes, trotting school activities and the skill development of stable staff.
Additionally, the funds will promote projects focused on horse welfare. Furthermore, the fund may facilitate initiatives related to the post-racing lives of racehorses.
In April, Suomen Hippos held change negotiations covering all employees due to financial, operational and organisational restructuring.
The operating environment of the horseracing industry has changed in recent years, affecting the organisation’s operations and finances. In addition, the organisation’s services are becoming increasingly digital with a growing shift to online operations.
Back then, Suomen Hippos Chair Antti Lehtisalo commented on this: “The transformation of the horseracing sector will continue in the coming years, and therefore Suomen Hippos must also review its operations. In line with its operational plan, a key objective for 2026 is to prepare the organisation and sector for the new gambling market and the changes it brings.”
Against this backdrop of ongoing structural change, incoming market liberalisation and financial pressure across the sector, the anonymous €1m donation is seen as a significant boost for Finnish harness racing.
In anticipation of online betting and casino market opening, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) published new risk limits this week to help individuals better control their gambling.
As of early June, fifty operators have submitted applications to enter the new regulated Finnish market
