Photos show reindeer racing in Finland

A junior competitor bursts out of the starting gate during the Salla Porocup sprint racing event in Salla, Finland, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Aino Vaananen)

Jonne Mikkola, center, and other mushers wait in the starting gates for their reindeer to be loaded before a heat at the Salla Porocup reindeer sprint racing event in Salla, Finland, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Aino Vaananen)

Reindeer rest in their holding area beneath Sallatunturi fell before the start of reindeer racing at the Salla Porocup sprint racing event in Salla, Finland, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Aino Vaananen)

Reindeer herders Kalevi Simontaival, left, and Juhani Mantyranta, right, chat at the fence during the Salla Porocup reindeer sprint racing event, in Salla, Finland, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Aino Vaananen)

Mushers and reindeer jostle at the start of the Salla Porocup reindeer sprint racing event in Salla, Finland, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Aino Vaananen)

Young reindeer herder Antti-Akseli Pohtila practices throwing a suopunki, a traditional reindeer lasso, during the Salla Porocup reindeer sprint racing event in Salla, Finland, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Aino Vaananen)

Reindeer and their mushers sprint down the opening stretch during the Salla Porocup reindeer sprint racing event on the frozen Lake Keselmajarvi in Salla, Finland, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Aino Vaananen)

A reindeer handler guides an eager reindeer to the starting area during the Salla Porocup reindeer sprint racing event in Salla, Finland, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Aino Vaananen)

A reindeer breaks away from the pack during the Salla Porocup reindeer sprint racing event on the frozen Lake Keselmajarvi in Salla, Finland, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Aino Vaananen)