Hippos finalizes 2025 racing calendar reducing race days in Finland

The central organization for harness racing and horse breeding in Finland, Hippos, has finalized the racing calendar for 2025, featuring a total of 401 race days. This marks a decrease of 20 from the current year and a reduction of 50 compared to 2023. For the first time, Hippos has utilized artificial intelligence to optimize the scheduling of race days. The AI considered the locations of horses in relation to race tracks, resulting in more race days at venues with a higher concentration of horses.

“By organizing race days based on the actual locations of the horses, we can minimize transportation distances and effectively reduce emissions,” stated Arto Hytönen, the racing competition director at Hippos.

Espoon Vermo will face the largest cuts, losing eight race days, although it will still host 43 race competitions, more than any other location. Tampere’s Teivo will have 33 race days, which is four fewer than last year.

Mikkeli emerges as the biggest winner, receiving effectively three additional race days, bringing its total to 17. Savonlinna will gain its own race day, having been part of Mikkeli’s earlier allocation of 15 race days. In addition to Mikkeli, only Jyväskylä and Kuopio will receive one extra race day each.

Kari Tiainen, CEO of the Mikkeli race track, views the increase in race days as excellent news for local horse owners and trainers. “Each race day costs us ten thousand euros to organize, and restaurant sales may not cover that. We are now awaiting clarity on whether government support will accompany these race days,” Tiainen added.

Funding for harness racing is set to decrease by 8.5 million euros next year from the current 40 million euros. This government allocation funds race prizes as well as operational support for race tracks.