ENGLISH TEXTS and, until the 2023 drought, we’ d never really had a water problem,” explains Thomas Roucayrol, administrative director of the Association des Courses de la Côte d’ Azur.“ We were suddenly forced to question ourselves and make drastic savings. Anything superfluous, any decorative watering, was stopped.” Since the water pipes date back to the racecourse’ s inauguration in 1952, a broad leak-detection campaign was launched, with various meters installed to locate them. In summer 2025, the Alpes-Maritimes are once again under heightened drought alert, which brings numerous constraints:“ A ban on watering between 8 a. m. and 8 p. m., with an obligation to cut our water consumption by 60 % compared with the averages over the five years before 2023,” details Thomas Roucayrol.“ We send our consumption readings every fortnight to the Departmental Directorate of Territories and the Sea( DDTM).” The racecourse, which pumps water from the nearby Loup, had to rethink its operations and stop maintaining a turf track that is used only in winter.“ After the Jumps and Flat meetings in February, we still water a little so we can rework the tracks, redo the surrounds of the obstacles … then we cut off the water completely and the turf dies. We reseed the nine hectares of track in September.” A radical choice! Barely two months later the Thoroughbreds are cantering over that pretty green ribbon, so rooting has to be optimal.“ We work closely with the agricultural cooperative and the companies Naturalis and Paysages Méditerranéens on the choice of seed mixes and species- we tinker every year. For example, this year we used a different turf in the Nice bend. The trial was conclusive and we validated it.” Maintenance of the freshly renewed tracks is particularly meticulous so that they can absorb the intensity of racing from December onward.
Weather dictates the work At Lyon-Parilly, water savings start with soil work, carried out in conjunction with the local meteorology firm Lyon Météo. The racecourse has its own station.“ It’ s set two meters above ground and linked to our hygrometric probes that measure temperature and humidity,” explains Romain Garin, manager of the Parilly and La Soie racecourses.“ Soil temperature is estimated by the weather station and confirmed by the probes. Between the two, the reading is very accurate.” The Lyon racecourses have joined the Roma network of three hundred amateur meteorologists, which helps refine forecasts. The weather actually differs quite a bit between the two sites, barely fifteen kilometers apart!“ The weather data allow us to decide on mechanical interventions. The old saying goes: one digging is worth two waterings. We work like the old hands— but with today’ s digital data. In the past we softened the tracks with water; today we do it mechanically, saving 20,000 m ³ a year, the equivalent of an Olympic pool.” The tracks are worked with a Verti-Drain whose tines aerate the soil. Thanks to guidance from Lyon Météo, even the slightest rainfall is optimized. Core samples are taken very regularly at around sixty points and to a depth of forty centimeters.“ It’ s like doing a biopsy of the soil,” says Romain Garin.“ We work it precisely and by zones according to our sampling results. That prevents track irregularities and concussive effects that impact tendons. In the end we make major water savings while increasing track safety by eliminating, in particular, slipperiness issues— at a time when horses are going faster and the financial stakes are higher.”“ In just a few years, the track manager’ s job has been revolutionized. Before, it was enough to water, and the bladed aerator came out very little. Now we use it once a week. There’ s far more to do and you have to stay close to your tracks. Our water consumption for the four turf tracks averaged 35,000 to 40,000 m ³ over the past five years; it should drop to 27,000 m ³ in 2025,” concludes Romain Garin. At Chantilly, irrigation is computer-controlled, with sophisticated programs and various possible scenarios. All the piping, very old, since the racecourse dates back to
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