Svensk Travsport cuts 600 races in 2027: 27 percent drop in Swedish trotting population forces drastic action

Svensk Travsport is set to cut the number of race fixtures in 2027 from 819 to approximately 770, a reduction of 49 days. The total number of races will fall from roughly 7,600 to 7,000, marking a decrease of 600 races. The decision was ratified by the board on September 3 and represents a far more substantial cut than the initial planning decision announced this spring, which had projected a reduction of 350 races.

The catalyst for the downsizing is the steep decline in Swedish-bred Standardbreds. Between 2022 and 2025, the number of foals dropped by approximately 27 percent. With these smaller crops now hitting the racetracks, the active horse population is simply no longer large enough to sustain the current racing calendar. "We have known for a long time that the volume of races would have to be adjusted once these smaller crops reached the tracks. We are now making a fairly substantial adjustment already in 2027," said CEO Jörgen Forsberg.

In 2025 and 2026, the governing body experimented with carding more races than the horse population warranted, hoping trainers would race their horses more frequently. However, that strategy did not bear fruit. "Unfortunately, it did not yield the desired result, which is why we now must make a reactive course correction, while also planning for a somewhat smaller horse population in 2027," Forsberg noted.

Of the 600 races being scrapped, around 200 will be eliminated by trimming lunchtime meetings from eight races to seven. The remaining 400 will vanish through the cancellation of entire fixtures, chiefly lower-tier grassroots cards and midweek gap meetings. Days generating the lowest wagering turnover will be cut first, while fixtures driving the highest betting revenue will be prioritized.

Forsberg stressed that earnings per horse will not decline. "I cannot emphasize enough that this does not represent a reduction in purse money per individual. Earning potential per horse and per race will remain at the same level. For the individual owner, things will look much the same in 2027 as in 2026." On average, a Swedish-trained trotter earns around 13,000 SEK per start and roughly 95,000 SEK annually—levels that Forsberg highlighted as all-time highs.

The cutbacks will not impact every venue equally. Romme loses six fixtures, Solvalla five, and Östersund four. Boden, Jägersro, Åby, and Kalmar will each lose three dates. Meanwhile, tracks such as Axevalla (48 fixtures), Färjestad (34 fixtures), and Visby (18 fixtures) remain untouched. By taking more decisive action now than originally forecast, Forsberg hopes the measures will also provide stability through 2028.

This move signals a structural sea change for Swedish harness racing, which has long boasted Europe's highest volume of races. The question remains whether the smaller provincial tracks, which rely heavily on the grassroots dates facing the axe, can weather the downsizing without harming local participation and attendance. On social media, concerns are already mounting that fewer races will shrink starting opportunities for rank-and-file horses and trainers.