White Turf St. Moritz: More Than a Horse Race

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When Lake St. Moritz freezes over in February, it transforms into the stage for an extraordinary spectacle. White Turf ranks among the most unusual – and at the same time most traditional – horse races in the world. Since 1907, St. Moritz has hosted gallop, trotting and skijoring races directly on snow and ice, creating a sporting event in which the location doesn’t merely serve as a backdrop, but becomes an essential condition.

White Turf takes place over three weekends in February and draws international horses, jockeys and trainers to the Engadin. The audience moves between genuine sporting interest, winter tourism and a major social occasion. At the heart of the event stand the classic gallop races, which still form its core. They demand exceptional precision: organisers prepare the track specifically for the conditions, horses run with adapted horseshoes, and the pace remains fast.

Trotting races and skijoring complement the gallop programme. In skijoring, skiers get pulled across the ice by horses – a discipline that has given White Turf international recognition and perfectly captures its distinctive character: horse racing under winter conditions, technically demanding and visually striking.

Family days – free admission

As deeply rooted in tradition as White Turf is, organisers have consistently opened the event to a broader public in recent years. One highly visible element comes through the Family Days, held on the Saturdays before each race Sunday. Admission is free – a deliberate signal designed to lower barriers and attract new audiences.

The programme specifically targets families and young participants: pony races, children’s and youth competitions in gallop, trotting and skijoring, pony rides, and supervised activities on the lake. White Turf explains the sport, makes it tangible, and translates it into a format that works even without prior knowledge. Family Days have become a fixed part of the concept: Saturday belongs to the next generation, Sunday to international racing.

White Turf Family Day Cr Christian Mettler

A winter classic with contemporary relevance

White Turf follows a clear structure. Grandstands rise directly on the frozen lake, distances remain short, and the action stays easy to follow. Between the track, gastronomy and hospitality areas, a temporary event space emerges – intentionally open and accessible. Visitors move freely between sport and accompanying programme, without separation.

White Turf shows that traditional events do not need to become rigid. By combining more than a century of racing history with an exceptional venue and modern formats such as the Family Days, it keeps the event relevant – for loyal guests as well as for a new, younger audience.