White Turf Events - The European Jet-Set Snow Meeting
Every February over the first three weekends, the White Turf Events is held at St. Moritz. This sophisticated skiing paradise for European celebrities, the super wealthy and increasingly Russian billionaires is very popular and incredibly glamorous. And so are the White Turf Events where thrills, betting fever and thoroughbred horses mark this event just as much as the unique alpine scenery at 6,000 ft at below cero temperatures and the high class catering. Having attended this unique events remains one of the best memories for most of the over 30,000 spectators who come here every year.
Although the winter season starts just before Christmas, the peak season in St. Moritz begins in the second week of January. But the month of February is by far the busiest month of the year. This is the month when the horse races on snow are on - the White Turf Events. There are some important differences between US or UK horse racing and the White Turf to remember. First this spectacular sports event is held on the frozen lake at St. Moritz with sheets of ice with an average thickness of 80 centimeters (31 inches). The top of the ice is covered with a few centimeters of packed snow and that together with the high altitude makes it much more difficult then on regular racing tracks for horsemen and horses alike. Second, the high society is present, stars from all over the world, sometimes people who don't know too much about horses but who vacation there in February.
The finale of the 2006 series drew a crowd of over 10,000, braving the weather in their race-day uniform of fur coats, snow boots and designer jeans. In the morning of race-day, hundreds of four-wheel drives parked on the lake. Then they head over to the elegant tent city which has been set up to watch all the action. To see and to be seen is here the motto, especially for the high society coming to St. Moritz who didn't just come to see horses running around a snow track. But regardless of that, the White Turf Events offer so many highlights. Besides the exciting flat- and trotting races, the horse races on snow also present Skijöring - daring men and amazons on skis trailing behind rider less full-bloods on the only Skijöring race in the world. In this year's (2006) event a record-breaking sum of prize money of more than 411,000 Swiss Francs (USD 329,000) has been given to the winners. Even some of the best Swiss alpine downhill skiers and a Formula 1 driver have tried Skijöring just for the fun of it. 
The ambience of the White Turf Events lures big names to the Engadin Valley. It attracts not just celebrities like Liz Hurley, Britt Ekland, the Earl and the Countess of Wessex to mention a few Races have been staged here since 1907 on the world's flattest course on the frozen lake of St. Moritz in the middle of the Swiss Alps. The first racing Sunday will mainly be marked by preparation races for the Grand Prix of St. Moritz. You get to see two trotting races and the start for the highly-coveted Skijöring Trophy. Local- as well as national and international stables have purchased top horses in the hope of winning this exciting race. An interesting field of top competitors will fight for the "BMW - Grosser Traberpreis" as well as for the GP "Air Mauritius". On the racing track as well as in the imposing tent village, people will have their champagne glasses filled at all times. This is also the time to network with people to make new friends and maybe the beginning of important business deals. At the "Grand Prix Credit Suisse" of Silvaplana on the third racing Sunday, the total sum of the achieved points during the three Skijöring races will determine the new Skijöring winner. The American Express Grand Prix of St. Moritz will attract tremendous attention with its prize money of over 110,000 Swiss francs. There are of course many Grand Prix's during the White Turf event, like the GP Diners Club Trophy, the GP Christoffel Bau Trophy, the GP White Turf Diamond Club and the GP Chervo. This top winter event does not only appeal to enthusiastic horse lovers. The White Turf event offers also a highly attractive fringe program. Included are three different art exhibitions, two interesting musical performances and a rich selection of culinary highlights. In other words, look forward to plenty of fun and enjoyment for children and adults alike. Return from White Turf Events to Switzerland Tourism Return from White Turf Events to High End Travel Switzerland Home Page |
The second racing Sunday is entirely devoted to the trotting races.