ENGLISH TEXTS
results of my first three runners. After that, we were lucky to have a good filly each year. I ended my first season with ten horses, which doubled the following year. Every year, the stable has grown in both size and quality. We now have 84 horses, but I’ m not necessarily looking to have more.” Having trained under top mentors from the start, Mario Baratti knows how to hit the mark— much to the delight of loyal punters. The 35-year-old currently holds the best percentage of placed horses in 2024 among the Top 30 trainers based in France:“ Good performances obviously come from making the right entries. I’ m also surrounded by a great team. My wife Monika plays a key role. She’ s an excellent rider and helps manage the stable.” Performing at the highest level in record time, this father of two young children shows no sign of slowing down, with two-thirds of his stable made up of two- and three-year-olds. The future is looking bright for Mario Baratti:“ I’ m lucky to have the trust of major owners. The goal is to get the best out of every horse in the yard. That’ s something I learned from Mil Borromeo and Pascal Bary. The stable is clearly focused on the top level. To have good horses, you have to treat them like good horses!”
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CLUB GRC
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BEING AN AMA- TEUR JOCKEY AND AN ADVOCATE FOR ANIMAL WELFARE
Around a hundred licensed individuals balance their professional or student lives with the adrenaline of horse racing. Thanks to their amateur jockey status, the Gentlemen-Riders and Lady Riders of the GRC Club live out their passion for racing alongside diverse careers, often closely tied to horses. Among them, Jeanna Viargues embodies this dual calling: as both an equine osteopath veterinarian and a licensed rider, she uses her expertise to promote horse welfare— both in the saddle and on the ground!
A qualified veterinarian specializing in equine osteopathy, Jenna dedicates her daily life to the health and well-being of horses around the world. She observes, listens, manipulates, and treats— always striving to provide the best care possible. But her bond with horses goes far beyond her medical work. It extends into the saddle. Riding during training and amateur races is another way for her to connect with the horse: feeling its strides, anticipating its movements, guiding it with precision. While some see two opposing careers— healing and racing— Jenna sees a beautiful complementarity.
JENNA VIARGUES
35 years old Equine Osteopath Veterinarian“ French, but a globe-trotter, following horses around the world. I studied veterinary medicine in Spain and specialized in equine medicine in France at Grosbois. I worked for several years as a vet in France while also attending a veterinary osteopathy school— always out of passion! That path led me to‘ OSTEO VET’: a way to treat horses using osteopathy while collaborating hand-inhand with veterinarians for better outcomes. I’ m fortunate to work with amazing race and sport horses in France— Chantilly and Normandy— but also in the United States and Dubai during the winter racing season. Working abroad is a real opportunity because it allows me to collaborate with trainers from all over the world( American, Japanese, Australian, Emirati, European …), giving me insight into different training methods and encouraging constant adaptation and self-questioning.” And what about riding?“ I rode in classical equestrian disciplines for 15 years before discovering the world
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