On Friday (March 20), the Swedish Trotting Association announced plans for a pilot project with judges providing remote race-day support.
The Swedish Trotting Association will run a 2026 pilot using remote judges as advisory support on five racetracks. The objective is to strengthen officiating support, promote knowledge-sharing and improve consistency in decision making, without changing responsibility or decision authority.
How the pilot works
Remote judges will act as an advisory resource for the on-site head judge and the judges’ panel throughout the race day during the pilot year. The role is partly coaching and is built on dialogue.
All decisions will continue to be made on site by the head judge and the judges’ panel, as before during the pilot. The remote judge has no superior or substitutive function during the test period.
Technology and access
Remote judges follow the races via live video in real time from their homes using Swedish Trotting Association’s extended judge support system with access to all camera angles, including replays, zoom and possibility to slow down the race film, in ongoing dialogue with the on-site officials.
Pilot scope in 2026
The pilot will be conducted at the five tracks with the fewest number of race days per year; Åmål, Visby, Skellefteå, Årjäng and Rättvik. It will be evaluated continuously during the year, encompassing a total of 72 race days, with an overall evaluation after the 2026 season. Future decisions have not been made before the evaluation.
Remote judges assigned in the pilot are four of Sweden's most senior judges: Staffan Falk, Stefan Fure Kanestad, Magnus Sjölund and Björn Wikander.
Focus areas
The project is enabled by new technology and is carried out with a focus on fairness and consistency in officiating, as well as good working conditions for officials.
(with files from Svensk Travsport / Swedish Trotting Association)