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The Ljutomer Trotter through the Time

In the Austro-Hungarian monarchy Ljutomer with its surroundings was one of the major horse breeding centers in Styria. For centuries horses were used as the main craft primarily for farming, transportation and military purposes. The idea of breeders in Prlekija was to breed horses good for the field work, rapid in transport and capable for long distances. To prove and compare all these qualities of Ljutomer Trotter in September 1874 farmers from this area organized the first trotter sport racing. The race turned into a great success and commitee members decided to found a racing club.

The club was registered on 26th May 1875 in Graz as the first equestrian sports club called the Society for racing mare in trotting in Ljutomer (Društvo za dirkanje s kobilami v kasu v Ljutomeru).

To enable professional care of horse breeding there were two cooperatives in the period of 1907-1961: First Austrian cooperative for breeding Ljutomer Trotter and First cooperative for breeding of foals. They keep the breeding register books.

Till the year 1954 the races took place in the village Cven near Ljutomer and in the same year there was a new hypodrom built in Ljutomer and the races have been organized in Ljutomer since then.