ENGLISH TEXTS cutbacks seem sure to come. Meanwhile British racing is locked in a dispute about governance as Lord Allen, the new chairman of the British Horseracing Authority, has so far been unable to push through his demand for independent board rather than the current one made up of representatives of the different factions which has proved unable to push through reforms widely believed to be necessary. Philip Newton, the Chairman of the British Breeders Association has been one of the most prominent voices expressing concern about falling numbers of foals in Britain with the crop declining by 25 % over the five years to 2025. However, for the time being disputes between the racecourses and other stake holders over raceday data rights have paralyzed the whole decision making process. In this global context France is still in a relatively strong position, even if France Galop’ s President Guillaume de Saint-Seine has described the financial situation as‘ violent, very violent.’ The PMU’ s contribution to racing is declining and fast, but at least France Galop is in a position to react. France Galop has made both poor and good decisions in the past, it could in all probability have done more to invest for the future during the years of plenty, but at least France Galop is in a position to make decisions when in so many other places from Britain, to Germany and the United
Staes there is no authority able to take decisive action. France Galop does not have to negotiate with different stakeholders, the owners of racecourses and data rights, as it holds them all itself. In Riyadh Engelbrecht Bresges outlined what he sees as the way forward for the global business with international cooperation to create superstars and competition as well as new digital onsite and online experiences. For him, any path forward must include a fierce combat with illegal betting, which threatens every racing jurisdiction, and the use of every available technology to avoid catastrophic breakdowns on course and sudden deaths.‘ If you only promote wagering, especially to a younger generation you have no chance because they have gaming, instant gratification,’ he added.‘ So, we have to really promote our sport.’ France Galop appears to have similar objectives with its most important change to the flat program moving two Group 1 races, the Ispahan and Vicomtesse Vigier to the JeuXdi May 21 in order to introduce the young audience of Longchamp’ s Thursday nights to racing of the highest level and to put on such events in front of a big and enthusiastic crowd. Southwell racecourse in the North of England showed this week that it is possible to create a racing event which draws a big audience and generates betting turnover, while promoting the sport of racing. Constitution Hill, a nine year old gelding, but an outstanding horse over hurdles made his flat race debut in a specially devised conditions race on a Friday night on Southwell’ s all-weather track. The Nicky Henderson trained gelding’ s ten race winning streak, which made him one of the best known horses in the country, had come to a terrible halt with three falls in his last four starts and so his trainer suggested it would be a good idea to run him on the flat. Southwell came forward and put on the race which attracted a crowd about hundred times larger than its usual Friday evening and its betting turnover among the best races of 2026 so far. Constitution Hill surprised everybody winning in a canter by 9 ½ lengths, suggesting he could be up to competing in Group races on the flat. An equine star, a competitive race as the £ 40,000 added attracted a field of thirteen, and a new challenge created an event which appealed to those close enough to go to the track as well as to the wider audience following from a distance. Constitution Hill may or may not return to Cheltenham in March to try to regain his Champion Hurdle crown but for a long term objective the obvious target has to be the Group 1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier over 3100 metres. What better story could France Galop produce for the first Group 1 to be run at Longchamp at night, the best domestic stayers
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