ENGLISH TEXTS
Patronage is so celebrated there that everyone wants to be a part of it . They sell dreams in Australia , and that creates many vocations . I also think that we could , without looking very far , develop ownership with the help of ante-post fixed-odds betting .
ÉRIC HOYEAU
1To avoid breakdowns as much as possible , we would be well advised to avoid training and racing on ground that is too firm , which generates speed . Climate change makes me think that the British NH season model has virtues today that did not seem as decisive a few years ago . The gap between our two seasons was of some interest for trade , but this is less true now . However , we must obviously keep in mind the implications that such a move would have on the overall calendar , regarding trotters , and in terms of betting .
2The standards required in this area are not the same in all regions of the world , and even within countries themselves . When you enter a racecourse in California , Melbourne or Liverpool to the jeers of protesters , you understand better the zeal of the organisers . In Kentucky or Europe , public pressure on such issues is less intense . It seems desirable to me , in light of recent events related to these rules in Australia and the USA , to be able to harmonise standards and procedures so that everyone is able to decide whether or not to participate in a race before travelling there . If the sales agencies around the world have been able to agree to harmonise many of their rules , there is hope for this as well .
3The answer is mainly technical . The jumpers that venture into Flat racing in Ireland or England jump smaller hurdles , that we call “ clays ”. Our hurdlers jump small fences that are more than 1m high , 70cm deep , with a take-off board . This requires a more advanced jumping technique . The pace of racing is also not the same in France and across the Channel . In the past , it was easier , as the English and Irish still do , to test the waters in big Flat handicaps , but this is not so often done today . When I was a gentleman rider , a few years ago , I had the opportunity to ride some good jumps horses on the Flat , for a comeback race , but not at a high level .
4The Australian breeding industry revolves around the Golden Slipper , a 2-year-old race run over a challenging 6f course . Beyond one mile , you ’ re talking stayers , by Australian standards . To contest the Melbourne Cup , like the local Classics over 1m4f , Australian owners very often went to buy in New Zealand . This niche has become increasingly popular , and the programme has grown in strength , so the demand for good " staying " horses has increased . The success of European horses over there has done the rest . What is interesting about this is that a second market , for horses that do not succeed at the top level , seems to have been created at the less central racecourses , so demand remains strong .
JACQUES CYPRÈS
1The Auteuil ground cannot withstand a whole winter . A break is necessary . This year ' s calendar was imposed by the Olympic Games , which pushed back the start of the season , and I think this programme works well . We race from September 15 th to December 15 th , then from February to the end of May . It ' s a good format .
2It seems to me that the trainer is the one who knows his horse best and that his agreement should be necessary . But I notice that this type of pre-race examination is becoming more frequent .
3François Doumen did it with Kasbah Bliss , so it ' s possible . However , it ' s a delicate task as running at a high level on the Flat requires preparation that can disrupt a jumper for Auteuil . It ' s inevitably a choice .
4This market is indeed developing , and it makes our task more complicated because we are chasing the same horses as the Australian buyers when we are looking for stallions for jumps racing . I don ' t know if we would have kept Martaline if the Australians had been as active at the time ! However , we don ' t necessarily have the means to keep up . There were potential stallions among those that sold well at auction recently , but we can ' t compete .
ROBERT COLLET
1This year ' s calendar is not very practical because we will be racing at Cagnes before Auteuil is over . It must be acknowledged that the climate has changed and if twenty years ago , we risked cancellations at Auteuil in December , this is less true today . We must also preserve the meetings , and Cagnes-sur-Mer requires a heavier organisation for trainers , because the training centre is not as well equipped for jumps racing as Pau . However , what should preside over any decision , in my opinion , is the turnover of betting . Everything must be done to encourage it .
2I ' m not sure I would have taken kindly to having a runner taken away from a race against my will . Each country has its own rules .
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