ENGLISH TEXTS
at Cagnes-sur-Mer under the training of Sébastien Guarato ( Bold Eagle , Face Time Bourbon )— the former footballer is back on the racecourses . In the past , the beIN Sports pundit had already savored victory at Saint-Cloud and Vichy ( with an extra Quinté + bonus ) with Ashkelon , who raced a dozen times under his colours and under the training of his ex – stepfather , Robert Laplanche . This was an era when Emmanuel Petit was associated with Robert Pirès , the man behind the famous double at the 1998 World Cup -and also at Euro 2000 with Les Bleus . Together with Antoine Griezmann , Luis Fernandez , Lionel Charbonnier , Jérôme Rothen , Benoît Costil , Marvin Martin and even Manuel Amoros , this duo embodies the passion that former French internationals have for racing . Like Tony Parker , some openly embrace the role of ambassador — a way perhaps to remain in the spotlight , and certainly to feel the thrill of a passion that strikes them at their very core .
Mick Channon , the Pioneer Do they owe this passion to their elder , Mick Channon ? Perhaps in part , considering that Southampton ’ s greatest goalscorer was the first modern footballer to leave such an indelible mark on the world of racing : 232 goals and 46 caps for England over twenty years on the pitch ; over thirty years as a racecourse trainer with roughly 2,500 victories and 21 Group 1 wins to his credit . In England , he is a model of reinvention - a trailblazing centre-forward . Across the Channel , another legend in this realm is Sir Alex Ferguson , the iconic manager of Manchester United . On the football side , he boasts thirteen English league titles , nine domestic cups , and two Champions League trophies . In racing , however , he has achieved nine Group 1 wins — including seven in a row as owner of Rock of Gibraltar , two King George VI races , one Punchestown Gold Cups and two Aintree Bowl Chases with Clan des Obeaux ( plus a third with What a Friend ), as well as a Bahrain International Trophy with Spirit Dancer . “ Winning such trophies , whether in football or racing , brings the same thrill ,” asserts the legendary Red Devils coach . “ The big difference is control . In football , I had my hands on my players . In racing , I have to rely on the trainer .” Competing instead of riding as a passenger , handing over the reins , is perhaps a way to keep the adrenaline flowing while loosening one ’ s grip a little . In the 1970s , film stars flocked to the racecourses . The days of Alain Delon , Mireille Darc , Michel Sardou , and Omar Sharif … Moreover , personalities like JoeyStarr are now on the verge of succumbing to the bug , while comedian Nicolas Canteloup even holds a trainer ’ s license for flat racing and never before have so many French films been devoted to racing ( with titles like Turf , Tempête , and the forthcoming Lads ). Today , showbiz appears to have passed the baton to top-level sportspeople . From locker rooms to racecourses , the bridges between these worlds are multiplying . We all know that sportspeople love video games , golf or poker . Yet the passion for racing is far more widespread in this milieu than one might imagine . Behind stars such as the German Thomas Müller , his former Bayern Munich teammate Claudio Pizzaro , Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti , ex-Parisian Javier Pastore , former AC Milan and Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri , Chilean Arturo Vidal -not to mention the legendary Maradona and former Ballon d ’ Or winner Michael Owen - football is teeming with owners of both gallopers and trotters , whether famous or not .
“ The Same Adrenaline ” Whether in Rennes , Nice , Saint-Étienne , Angers , or elsewhere , the collective environment is a fertile ground for inspiration . From there , multiple vocations emerge , sometimes evolving into associations . For instance , while playing in Reims , Mathieu Cafaro teamed up with his teammates Marvin Martin and Alaixys Romao before passing the bug on to Eric Vandenabeele . “ Just talking about it makes you
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