The White Turf

Horse Racing at High Altitude in the Swiss Alps

White Turf is one of the most spectacular horse racing events in the world — held each February on the frozen surface of Lake St. Moritz, in the heart of the Swiss Alps, since 1907. Thoroughbreds and jockeys compete at high altitude on a snow-covered track that replaces the traditional turf circuit with one of the most extreme natural arenas in equestrian sport.

When the Frozen Lake Becomes a Race Track

The 2017 and 2018 editions document the technical complexity of racing on ice, where the hierarchies of traditional horse racing are disrupted by sub-zero temperatures and the unpredictability of a frozen lake surface. The Swiss Alps impose their own rules: wind, light, and cold become active factors in the race, not just the backdrop.

Three Disciplines on the Snow: Galloping, Trotting and Skikjöring

The official programme for each Sunday of racing is structured around three disciplines. Galloping and trotting follow the logic of classic equestrian sport, adapted to the frozen lake conditions. Skikjöring is the most visually striking format: athletes on skis are towed by horses at speeds exceeding 50 km/h across the snow surface of St. Moritz.

St. Moritz, Engadin: Landscape as Part of the Race

The event draws high-society figures and racing professionals alike, set against the geometric clarity of the alpine landscape. In the Swiss Alps, the competitive adrenaline of horse racing meets the rigour of one of Europe's most iconic winter environments — the Engadin valley and the frozen lake that, for three Sundays each February, becomes a race track.