The election of the President, the Vice-Presidents and the members of the Board forthe period 2022-2024, the vote of modifications to the International Agreement onTrotting, the reform of the "Trotting Masters" circuit and the European Championships,the creation of a data exchange system called "UETConnect" and the approval of the2021 accounts were on the agenda of this meeting.
The UET is looking forward to the resumption of horse racing in Europe in 2022and supports the Ukrainian horse racing industry.
In her annual report, the President Marjaana ALAVIUKHOLA went back over the lasttwo years which had a strong impact on the activity of trotting races in Europe. Shewas pleased to see the return of the public to the racecourses since the lifting of healthrestrictions as well as the resumption of horse betting in most countries.
The President has high hopes for the ability of European trotting federations to developtheir customer base, thanks to the digital revolution, which has been accelerated bythe health crisis.
Following the brutal attack of Russia in Ukraine, the President recalled that the Boardof the UET decided to suspend, for an indefinite period, Russia from any participationin the work of the association. A donation of €30,000 was made to support the trottingindustry in Ukraine.
Animal welfare at the heart of the UET's concerns
The President reaffirmed that defending the interests of trotting in Brussels, especiallyin times of economic crisis, and paying particular attention to animal welfare remainthe priority issues for the UET in the coming years.
Several amendments to the International Agreement on Trotting have been made,notably concerning animal welfare. One of them prohibits the possession and use ofelectrical or electronic equipment that could modify the behaviour of a horse during training.
During the debates, Sweden insisted on the need to regulate more strictly, throughoutEurope, the use of the whip in racing. Sweden encourages European countries to banthe use of whips when they are used to improve a horse's performance. France, for itspart, has stated that it is just as urgent to better supervise the practice of barefootracing. The members of the UET agreed that these two subjects, which are importantfor the image of trotting races and for animal welfare, should be discussed over thenext few months, with the aim of proposing a common regulation as soon as possible.
President Mrs Marjaana ALAVIUHKOLA and the outgoing Board wereunanimously re-elected for the period 2022-2024.
During this meeting, the members of the Board for the period 2022-2024 were elected.The current representatives were re-elected (France, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Austria,Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Finland and Switzerland).
Mrs. Marjaana ALAVIUHKOLA (Sweden) was re-elected President of the UET for asecond mandate, Mrs. Achille CASSART (Belgium) and Camiel MELLEGERS(Netherlands) were re-elected 1st and 2nd Vice-President. Mr Guillaume MAUPAS(France) was also unanimously re-elected as Secretary General of the association.Peter TRUZLA was confirmed as Technical Advisor.
The " UET Grand Prix - Elite ", the new formula of the " Trotting Masters " from2023.
The General Assembly of the UET voted the project of reform of the circuit " TrottingMasters " for the calendar 2023. This project includes the creation of a circuit of 15 to17 races among the most prestigious Group 1 races in Europe, which will determine aranking offering to the best horses of this list, a priority participation in the UET "Elite"Grand Prix, the new name of the "Trotting Masters". This final will be endowed with€500,000 and will be held every other year in Sweden (Solvalla) or in France(Vincennes). The first edition of this new event will take place in Sweden in mid-October 2023, on the same day as the UET Grand Prix for 4-year-old colts and fillies.The European Championship for 3 year olds and the European Championship for 5year olds will be abandoned.
The member countries of the UET have committed themselves to adapting their racingcalendar, in particular for the best 4 year olds and 5 year olds and more, in order toprotect the date of the UET Grand Prix (4 year olds and Elite).
For the President, the creation of the UET Grand Prix day (4 years old and Elite), on afixed date each year, "must also be an opportunity to offer European operators anattractive product capable of generating significant revenue for the industry, byencouraging them to pool their stakes on these events".
The World Trotting Conference moved to Germany in 2023
As Italy cannot organize the World Trotting Conference in 2023, Germany hasproposed its candidacy for the organization of this event and its preparation on theoccasion of the Inter - Conference (August 2022). The proposal was approved by theUET members.
UETConnect - the European trotting data exchange
The UET continues its work on the creation of a European data exchange system. Thetool is now built and the regulatory issues of data use have been addressed. Theworking group in charge of the development of the UETConnect tool has informed theUET members that this system will soon be available to the member countries. Fourcountries (France, Norway, Finland and Sweden) are already connected as part of thepreliminary tests.
Great Britain to apply
TROTBritain, through its representative M. Jack DOWIE, has applied to become the22nd full member of the UET. The application will be processed as soon as it isreceived by the Board.
Contact:
isabelle.gizardin@letrot.com
+33674685357
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