The Union Europeenne du Trot, or in English, the European Trotting Union, also known by its acronym, UET, is the governing body of European trotting. The federations main purpose "is the promotion of trotting races and horse breeding in Europe as well as their integrity and prestige in the world". Its headquarters are in the country of the General Secretariat and the federation's current president is Swedish Patrik Sandin. UET has 18 member associations.

History

Before 1973 there were two European trotting federations, the Continental Trotting Union (UCT) and the International Trotting Racing Union (UICT). In 1972, the two unions decided to form one joint federation, UET. Upon the formation in 1973, Pierre de Montesson of

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

became the first president of UET.

Member countries

UET has 18 member associations.

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

The Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...

and Sweden were the founding members in 1973. Since then have

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...

(1974), Switzerland (1975),

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

(1977),

Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...

(1991),

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...

(1998),

Slovenia Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, an ...

(2005),

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

(2006),

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...

(2006) and

Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the ...

(2008) joined the European Trotting Union.

Functions

UET's above-mentioned purpose, to promote "trotting races and horse breeding in Europe as well as their integrity and prestige in the world" is carried out through different methods. The organization tries to establish rules that are common to trotting in all Europe. It arranges events and aims to make sure that big races on different tracks do not overlap. Furthermore, UET claims to work against both doping and gambling problems.

Events arranged by UET

UET Grand Prix

UET Grand Prix (''Grand Prix de l'UET''), also called the European Trotting Derby, is an event for European-born, four-year-old stallions and mares. According to UET, the events aim is to encourage breeding. The 2009 UET Grand Prix has a €460,000 purse.

3-year-old European Championship

This championship is a race between 3-year-old European trotters (not geldings) that have been chosen to represent their different countries by the countries' national federations. The 3-year-old European Championship was created in 1984 and the 2009 edition has a purse of €150,000.

5-year-old European Championship

The

5-year-old European Championship The 5-year-old European Championship, also called European 5-year-old Championship, is an annual Group One harness event that is arranged by the European Trotting Union, UET. The race takes place on a racetrack in one of the member countries of ...

was created in 1967. The competing horses are picked by their national federations. Geldings are not allowed to race in the championship. The 2009 5-year-old European Championship has a purse of €100,000.

European Grand Circuit and UET Masters Series

The

European Grand Circuit European Grand Circuit (french: Grand Circuit européen) was a harness racing series arranged by European Trotting Union. It was held from 1956 to 2011. The competition was replaced by UET Masters Series in 2012. The circuit consisted of the ma ...

was a series of Group I races taking place in UET countries during a year. It was replaced by the UET Masters Series in 2012.

European Championship for apprentices

The national federations choose apprentices to represent their countries. The competition was founded in 1986.

European Championship for drivers

The most-winning drivers of the UET countries face each other in this event, which was established in 1969. It is held every two years, in alteration with the world driving championship.

References

{{Authority control Harness racing in Europe