Kuninkuusravit celebrates 100th anniversary with record attendance at Killer racetrack in Jyväskylä

The Kuninkuusravit, Finland’s premier harness racing event, is being held for the 100th time this year, marking a long-standing tradition for many attendees. The three-day event set a record for attendance on its opening day, with approximately 8,144 spectators arriving at the Killer racetrack in Jyväskylä. Saturday saw an impressive total of around 19,700 attendees, which according to Jenni Sarapää, the event’s communication and marketing planner, is a typical turnout for a successful Saturday.

Among the loyal fans are Laura Huusko, Salla Nousiainen, and Jenna Hartojoki from Iisalmi. Huusko noted, “This is our main goal for the summer. We plan our trip all year round,” mentioning that this year marks her 12th consecutive visit, without any breaks despite expecting a second child soon.

Riikka Finni and Ari Rautio traveled from Raahe, cheering for Lumi-Oosa, a horse that resides close to them. “We eagerly await the queen’s race. Of course, we hope that last year’s queen will retain her title,” Rautio said. In a related vein, Reino and Arja Miettinen from Siilinjärvi shared their experience of having once won the queen title with their horse, Virin Camilla, crowned in 2020.

Currently, Virin Camilla is enjoying some rest with her foal while the Miettinen couple supports another contender, V.G. Voitto. “It seems to be quite a good horse, and we have bred Virin Camilla with it,” Reino mentioned, appreciating the unique personalities of horses. Arja even reflects her love for racing through her horse-themed earrings.