Rookie driver to race in Finland’s top harness event

Tino Keväänranta, 23, will make his debut in Finland’s premier harness racing event, the Kuninkuusravit, this weekend, reports Yle.

Keväänranta will drive Soketti, an 8-year-old stallion from Lempäälä, in the king’s class. Both driver and horse are first-time participants in the championship.

Soketti’s co-owner Hannu Isotalo offered Keväänranta the opportunity, citing the young driver’s skill and progress. “We wanted to give a chance to a young Pirkanmaa driver. I’ve followed Tino’s work—he’s doing well and keeps improving,” Isotalo said.

Keväänranta, from Nokia, is the first driver born in the 2000s to compete in the event. Soketti, standing at 168 cm, is the only Pirkanmaa-based horse in the race and has earned the nickname “Lempäälä’s Rocket.”

The Kuninkuusravit, held this year in Teivo, draws up to 50,000 spectators annually. The king and queen titles are decided over three heats across two days, with prize money ranging from €17,000 for a single heat win to €100,000 for a clean sweep.

Despite Soketti’s underdog status in the points standings, Keväänranta remains confident. “It’s exciting to race against the big names over all three heats. I believe in the horse,” he said.

Notably, Keväänranta has never driven Soketti before this weekend’s opening heat, relying instead on observations and feedback from others who have raced the stallion.