Finnish town of Inari crowns its reindeer racing champion
  • last year
Finland crowns its reindeer king as 14 reindeer and jockeys compete for the title in the season's final race in the Arctic, with reindeer racing a growing sport. Dressed in skis, helmets and ski goggles and pulled by harnesses attached to the reindeer, Finland's top 14 competitors raced one kilometer around an oval against the clock in the far northern town of Inari. Reindeer Verneri and jockey Janne Alatalo came out on top, completing the track in 1 minute and 35.26 seconds, in a mild 6 degree Celsius (43 Fahrenheit) weather that made for slushy snow conditions. Reindeer races have been organised in Finland since the 1950s, according to Seppo Koivisto, president of the country's reindeer racers' association Suomen Porokilpailijat, which organises the races.