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

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 became the first president of UET.

Member countries

UET has 18 member associations. Austria

Austria

Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

, Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

, Denmark

Denmark

Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...

, France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

, Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

, The Netherlands, Norway

Norway

Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...

 and Sweden

Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

 were the founding members in 1973. Since then have Finland

Finland

Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

 (1974), Switzerland

Switzerland

Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

 (1975), Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

 (1977), Malta

Malta

Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...

 (1991), Czech Republic

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....

 (1998), Slovenia

Slovenia

Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...

 (2005), Estonia

Estonia

Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...

 (2006), Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

 (2006) and Hungary

Hungary

Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. 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.

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

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 UET. The contenders are chosen by the different...

 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

The European Grand Circuit is a series of Group I races taking place in UET countries during a year. A bonus (5% of the total prize money) is distributed to the horses that finish in the top three overall. In 2009, the circuit consists of 13 races: Elitloppet

Elitloppet

Elitloppet or Solvallas Internationella Elitlopp is an annual, invitational Group One harness event that has taken place at Solvalla Racetrack in Stockholm, Sweden since 1952. The competition is regarded as one of the most prestigious international events in trotting...

, Hugo Åbergs Memorial

Hugo Åbergs Memorial

Hugo Åbergs Memorial is an annual Group One harness event for trotters that is held at Jägersro Racetrack in Malmö, Sweden. Hugo Åbergs Memorial has taken place since 1970. In 2008, the purse of the event was approximately US$291,000...

 and Åby Stora Pris

Åby Stora Pris

Åby Stora Pris is an annual Group One harness event for trotters that is held at Åby Racetrack in Mölndal, 10 km south of Gothenburg, Sweden. Åby Stora Pris has taken place since 1936, the same year Åby Racetrack was opened. In 2008, the purse of the event was approximately US$359,000...

 of Sweden, Gran Premio Lotteria

Gran Premio Lotteria

Gran Premio Lotteria, or Gran Premio della Lotteria, or in short, Lotteria, is an annual Group One harness event that takes place at Agnano Racetrack in Naples, Italy. The competition, which was inaugurated in 1951, is regarded as one of the most prestigious international events in trotting...

, Campionato Europeo and Gran Premio Nazioni of Italy, Prix de France and Grand Critérium de Vitesse de la Cote d'Azur of France, Oslo Grand Prix and Forus Open of Norway, Finlandia-Ajo of Finland, Copenhagen Cup of Denmark and Grand Prix de Wallonie of Belgium.

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.