The official inauguration of ParisLongchamp racecourse takes place on Sunday despite the fact that the track opened three weeks ago and has already held five meetings.
France Galop president Edouard de Rothschild has been pleased with the response to the new facilities so far, both from the horsemen and the racing public, and admits that adjustments have been made in line with feedback received.
“Anybody who's moved into a new house knows that you need time to adjust, even if you have worked alongside the architect to make it the way you felt was right,” he said. “We welcomed all our guests before we have had a chance to chill out, but we watch and listen to our visitors, we have tested everything and we have tried to adjust to the people's wishes. It is something we are used to at France Galop, since we are a non-profit association. We do have to please as many members as we can. I must say that so far the racing people have been very positive and I am glad they are, because this racecourse is their home as much as it is mine. This is where we need to show the world what we do best. We just cannot fail.”
The European turf season has started with the hangover of one of the worst winters of recent times, with soft ground a regular feature, and it looks as though Sunday's meeting will be held in similarly testing conditions.
De Rothschild continued, “We also had to deal with bad weather and it looks like Sunday, of all days, could be rainy. There's nothing we can do about that. We just need to take our umbrellas along. But since the opening, we have had the opportunity to improve a few things, make sure the public, as well as the owners and trainers move around swiftly, find their way and their spaces easily, have a chance to enjoy the show we put on the course. In the end, of course, we are gathered here for the racing.”
In that regard, de Rothschild and his team could hardly have wished for a better opening act than to be welcoming Europe's top-rated colt, Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}), to tackle the first Group 1 race to be staged at ParisLongchamp, the Prix Ganay.
“It's largely thanks to Anthony Oppenheimer and John Gosden, who have trusted us once again by showing their champion Cracksman to the French crowds,” he added. “He has been a great addition to the field of the Prix Ganay. We couldn't dream of such a star lining up when we decided to double the race's prize-money to €600,000. I think that it is a good idea because the Prix Ganay is wonderfully timed, early enough in the season to pull in some of the winter champions and late enough to provide a nice springboard for the main European season, with the Qatar Arc weekend as our climax. With Enable, Cracksman and the Ballydoyle squad still around, and possibly new champions revealed in the next couple of months from all over Europe, we look forward to a great homecoming Arc weekend.”
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