A unique event in the world and always eagerly awaited, the Saint-Moritz Grand Prix meeting took place this Sunday, January 20. Every year for more than 80 years, tens of thousands of people have gathered in this upscale ski resort to see flat races, trotting and ski joëring contested on a frozen lake. This year it is a Spanish competitor Furioso who won the prize in the Grand Prix.
In Saint-Moritz, the jockeys wear ski masks! ©White Turf St. Moritz
On Sunday February 20, the 82e edition of the Saint-Moritz Grand Prix (local Gr.2), a unique event in the world since this race takes place on a frozen lake at an altitude of 1800 meters. Each year, 3 race meetings are organized in the heart of the very posh Swiss ski resort, before, as a high point, the Grand Prix meeting. Every year since 1907, tens of thousands of spectators come to attend this event organized by a team of some 200 volunteers. Unfortunately the 2021 edition could not take place, but the organizers had pulled out all the stops this year to offer an unforgettable show and reception, combining sport, music, gastronomy and art. .
Always a lot of people in Saint-Moritz ©White Turf Saint-Moritz–
The highlight of this day of celebration obviously remains the Grand Prix of St Moritz, a local Gr.2 event which is contested over 2000 meters and 80 centimeters of ice and compacted snow. The prize went to a Spanish visitor Furious a representative of Guilermo Arizkorreta Elosegui. This son of Lucayan remained on a victory in a conditional race on the racecourse of Pau. Placed behind the facilitators Furioso placed a devastating attack in the last turn to get out of reach of Mordred, the British competitor who had won both high schools. Furioso’s entourage had checked this race for several weeks, so he left Switzerland with the trophy and the € 45,000 allotment promised to the winners. Highlighted 42, Furioso should now be seen in France in major races.
The Saint-Moritz racecourse can accommodate three disciplines on its frozen lake: flat, trotting… and ski joëring! A unique event in the world and very popular with the general public, riders must not put on boots, but skis, and be pulled by thoroughbreds over 2,700m. A discipline where you have to have a strong heart to be able to collect the maximum number of points during the three race Sundays and thus claim the title of “King of the Engadine”! If the last inning came back to Praetoriusit is well known in France Vienna Woods who was crowned “Queen of the Engadine”. Trained in France by Carina FeyVienna Woods had already competed in this strange discipline in 2020.
For ski joëring you have to be half Jean-Michel Bazire, half Jean-Claude Killy ©White Turf Saint-Moritz
It is the country’s idol Roger Federer who hands over the Cup for ski joëring, sorry! ©White Turf St. Moritz– – 
