The horse industry in Sweden, of which harness racing is a key component – thoroughbred racing is on a much smaller scale - makes up 0.5 per cent of Sweden’s gross domestic product.

A report written by Tobias Heldt, an associate professor of tourism science and a senior lecturer at Dalarna University, Sweden, with a trotting background, illustrates the economic importance of the horse industry to the country.

Heldt stated in a report published on Swedish trotting website Travronden that 32.8 billion Swedish kronas (AU$4.67 billion) was traded in the horse industry in Sweden in 2019.

There were almost 30,000 jobs in the horse industry including 18-19,000 full-time positions, the report states.

“The horse industry’s economy is, of course, linked to the number of horses, which is determined by whether people can afford to have a horse and consume goods and services for their horses,” Professor Heldt said.

“The well-being of the horse industry depends on how the economy is, as well as how rich the country is in relation to the rest of the world.

“Sweden has become richer as a country in recent times, which has been positive for the horse industry, but what those figures look like in the future remains to be seen.”

He said the pandemic was “positive for the horse industry as more people chose to buy and spend connected to their horses” at that time, “but the consequences of that, as well as the war in Ukraine, might be a negative thing in the future, because of higher prices related to the horse industry (food, electricity, gas/patrol and so on).”

In Sweden there are 33 trotting tracks spread across the country, which will conduct 878 meetings in 2022. There are about 3000 drivers and 6000 trainers with about 18,000 horses in training.

The 1000-metre Solvalla track in Stockholm is the home of the $1.67 million Elitlopp, Europe’s richest annual invitational Group 1 trotting race, which was first conducted in 1952. The one-mile classic will be conducted in heats and a final on Sunday, May 29.

Other important Group 1 races include the Swedish Trotting Derby and the Hugo Abergs Memorial (both held in Jagersro), Swedish Trotting Criterium, (Solvalla), Aby Stora Pris and Olympiatravet (both at Aby),  Sprintermastaren (Halmstad) and the Breeders Crown (Eskilstuna).

The most unique among the top 10 classics is the Norbottens Stora Pris, held in the midnight sun in Boden, Sweden’s northernmost track. It is among 28 Group 1 races held in Sweden.