Sweden

Italy's major races will see the most significant downgrades among European countries after the European Pattern Committee announced alterations to the 2023 Flat programme Wednesday, as a host of that country's major races are set to be demoted in status. There will be 827 black-type races run in Europe this year, compared to the 852 in 2022, while group races have been cut by 13 to 412 and listed races drop to 415 from 427. One of the most significant changes to the Irish programme comes in the case of...

When Sweden instituted a ban of the whip at the beginning of the 2022 racing season, racing official Dennis Madsen was pretty sure what would happen, which was nothing. The races would still be competitive, the betting wouldn't be impacted and there would be no issues when it came to safety. Five months into the racing season in Sweden, Madsen, the head of horse racing for the Swedish Horse Racing Authority, who was a speaker at this year's Jockey Club Round Table, says he has been proven right. "There has...

In Swedish racing, there's a new tool being used to catch drug cheats, one with four legs and a wet nose. A 2 1/2-year-old Giant Schnauzer named Lykke (Swedish for happiness) has been put to work by the Swedish Trotting Association (ST) as part of its efforts to wipe out cheating. Lykke is able to detect the presence of illegal substances in a horse by smelling their urine. "It is impossible to say how common doping would be in Swedish trotting, but it would be naive of me to think...

The Women Jockey's World Cup has been cancelled for the second year running due to continuing COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Started at Bro Park in Stockholm, Sweden in 2017, the event is traditionally staged in June and has seen riders from 12 countries compete during the first three editions. Dennis Madsen Svensk Galopp's Director of Racing said, "It is very frustrating to have to cancel the Women Jockeys' World Cup for a second year running. "The international nature of the event requires early planning and even with the concessions that are...

The 2020 Women Jockeys' World Cup at Bro Park, Stockholm, which had been scheduled for June 28, has been placed on hold by Svensk Galopp, the Swedish Racing Authority, due to the developing Coronavirus pandemic. Held annually since 2017, the event has attracted top female riders from all over the world. Flat racing in Sweden is expected to return with a seven race card at Bro Park staged behind closed doors Apr. 5. "We are doing everything we can to make sure we can continue to race safely, but given...