White Turf St. Moritz 2023 Marks 116 Years of International Horse Racing on Snow

Over 50 horses on the first Race Sunday at White Turf St. Moritz 2023.

In 2023, noble thoroughbreds from all parts of Europe and international jockeys, as well as a fantastic accompanying programme, once again captivated guests from around he world on the frozen lake of St. Moritz.

White Turf, which has been held annually since 1907, is a top-class event: it combines exciting horse racing, fine catering, attractive music and art performances in front of a unique mountain backdrop on the frozen Lake of St. Moritz. The White Turf 2023 takes place on February 5th, 12th and 19th – 30,000 visitors from Switzerland and abroad are expected.

This year’s White Turf opened last weekend with the Family Day on Saturday and the first day of racing on Sunday. More than 50 horses from four countries competed? in the three disciplines gallop, trot, and skikjöring on the frozen Lake St. Moritz on Sunday.

In skikjöring, there were a change of generations: Franco Moro, Köbi Broger and Lupo Wolf will retire together after many years in which they have shaped the sport.

The Grand Prix Swiss Quality Broker is the first sighting test for the 83rd Grand Prix of St. Moritz, which will take place on the third Race Sunday. This year, for the first time, the Grand Prix is under the patronage of the Evangelos Pistiolis Foundation and again has a purse of 100,000 Swiss francs. Mordred and Nubius, the runners-up in last year’s St. Moritz Grand Prix, will be competing. In addition, the Swiss Derby winner of 2020, Moderator, who is one of the best flat horses in our country, will be competing on snow for the first time.

Ispahan from the Engadine stable ForzAgricula was considered a co-favorite in the main event of the first day. He won the Grand Prix Jockey Club in Dielsdorf at the end of September. However, he carries the highest weight in the field of ten at 61 kilos – three kilos more than the second representative of a Grisons stable, Singledon owned by the Hartmann couple from Prättigau. Already a race winner this year is Only the Brave, who travels from Germany and carries a favorable weight of 57 kilos.

Farewell to three skikjöring legends

The largest field of the day comes to the start in skikjöring, the Credit Suisse Grand Prix of Celerina. There are some top-class flat horses in the field, first and foremost Moonflight. The latter is trained by German champion Peter Schiergen and will be ridden in the race by his daughter-in-law, Valeria Schiergen from Graubünden. Moonflight was the favorite at last year’s Swiss Derby in Frauenfeld in June and eventually finished fourth.

The first day of racing at this year’s White Turf will also go down in the history books quite independently of what happens on the track: With Franco Moro, Jakob “Köbi” Broger and Alfredo “Lupo” Wolf, three skikjöring greats who have shaped this unique sport over many years are all retiring. Moro and Broger are the most successful skijorers still active and together they have won 18 of 31 King of the Engadine titles.

The three legends were given a public send-off on Sunday after the Credit Suisse Grand Prix of Celerina.

White Turf Family Days once again celebrate young talent

After enjoying enormous popularity with young and old alike in 2022, the White Turf Family Days are held again this year. On the first three Saturdays in February – 4th, 11th, and 18th – the racing offspring will be celebrated: The program includes pony, trotting and flat races, as well as mounted Credit Suisse Kids Skikjöring. In addition to pony rides, the supporting program for younger guests also includes skikjöring cab rides.