French racing

We have heard much about Christopher Head as he has stamped his name firmly in the book of young trainers to follow, and it will undoubtedly be wise also to pay attention to his sister, Victoria Head, who trains in her own right in Chantilly.  It is exactly two years since the 28-year-old sent out her first runner for Jean-Louis Bouchard, and her stable has now grown from five horses in her debut season to 25. She is currently operating at a strike-rate of 25 per cent, with six winners...

For some, Deauville is a summer playground. Horse sales, racing, good food and a spot of shopping. We have the Duc de Morny to thank for that. Having been instrumental in the construction of the racecourse at Longchamp in 1857, Napoleon's half-brother turned his attention to the Normandy seaside and by August 1864, racing was underway at Hippodrome la Touques in the town which has continued to draw the rich and famous, both for horse racing and film festivals. Nowadays, Deauville is no longer home solely to the August meeting....

After expanding its team to meet the increasing demand of racehorse management and administrative concierge, Racing Admin launched its new website (click here). Launched in 2020 by Charlotte Le Metayer to provide an effective solution to owners facing French administrative complexity, Racing Admin offers premium, independent and tailor-made services; from the implementation of appropriate ownership structure for new comers to the day-to-day management of owner's duties, including admin, account, legal and ownership management. For more information, visit https://www.racingadmin.fr/.

The ten-time champion jockey in France sits down in a Deauville restaurant and starts speaking. For 45 minutes, Christophe Soumillon barely draws breath as he outlines in almost evangelical terms his plans to teach children to ride. His dream, of course, in establishing the Soumillon International Pony Academy, is to teach one or more of them to ride as well as he does. On Monday, the Société d'aménagement foncier et d'établissement rural (SAFER), a Normandy organisation charged with preserving green spaces, announced that Soumillon had beaten seven other applicants in...

Fillies and mares are forbidden from racing in France after they have been covered by a stallion due to a change to the French rules of racing, France Galop announced. The amendment brings the rules for Thoroughbred racing in France into line with those for Arabians and for Standardbreds used for trotting. However, it is a move which puts France at odds with its fellow European Thoroughbred racing jurisdictions. In Britain and Ireland, fillies and mares can continue to compete for up to 120 days after being covered. If not...

The number of strikes with the whip a jockey is allowed to use over jumps and on the Flat in France has been reduced from five to four beginning on May 1, France Galop announced on Wednesday. There will be an educational and transitional period from Mar. 1 to Apr. 30 to allow jockeys to acclimate to the new regulations. The sanctions currently in place regarding overuse of the whip will be applied through Apr. 30. The aim is to gradually reduce the use of the whip, and the system...

Following a €10 million increase in prize-money for French racing in 2023, France Galop has announced a boost for 19 juvenile races which are to be run for €50,000 each. The total prize fund will be distributed among the first seven finishers, with the winner receiving €25,000. Juveniles eligible for French owners' premiums will receive an additional 80% on top of prize-money, meaning a pay out of €45,000 to the winner. The selected races over a range of distances have been proven to produce group-class horses over a number of...

Torquator Tasso, Danedream, Novellist, Star Appeal, Protectionist, Manduro, Shirocco, Lando, Almandin. All winners of some of the world's best races and with one thing in common: they were made in Germany.  The strength and depth of German breeding will not have escaped the attention of those who pay close attention to the subject, and in fact, such is the regard in which German families are held that the country, with a diminishing pool of mares which is now well below 1,000, could be deemed to be at risk losing the...

The Arqana Series, five races for colts and fillies offered at the Deauville sales, will be unveiled in 2023. The series, which will be contested between Deauville and ParisLongchamp, will offer £1.2 million in guaranteed minimum prize money. Races will highlight the August Meeting at Deauville (Aug. 10) and the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend (Sept. 30). Eligible sales for the 2023 series are: 2022 August Yearling Sale 2022 September Yearling Sale 2022 October Yearling Sale 2022 November Yearling Sale 2023 Breeze Up Sale (2-year-olds) Additionally, foals that...

France Galop has agreed to a four-year deal with HBA Media to distribute its entire international racing portfolio-the French Flat horse racing calendar--the company announced on Wednesday. HBA Media will ensure global broadcast and multi-platform distribution for the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and an additional 26 Group 1 and Group 2 race days. Henry Birtles, Chief Executive of HBA Media, said, "HBA Media is delighted to enter this exciting partnership with France Galop. "Over the past few years, our vision at HBA Media has been focused on...

If you are a breeder planning to board one or several mares in France, or an owner planning to race in that country, then the name of Charlotte André is one you might want to become familiar with. France has many well-documented assets, led by increased prize-money in 2022 and lucrative ßbonuses paid to the owners and breeders of horses raised in the country. This scheme is open to the progeny of stallions based in France and abroad and applies throughout a horse's racing career. But, as with all bonuses,...

   Sunday's G1 Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp sees two of France's big names Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) and The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) go head-to-head over the unique intermediate trip of nine furlongs 55 yards. While Skalleti has yet to strike at this exalted level despite holding the enviable tally of seven group-race wins, his compatriot has won one of the most prestigious of them all in Ascot's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. in October. Disappointing so far this term, Al Asayl France's The Revenant could have been forgiven for...