ENGLISH TEXTS generally remains more empirical and based on their “ eye “. However , Christopher Head , whose results speak for themselves , uses these training aids a lot and carefully studies his readings .
• Warm-up before the race : Trotters do heats , these preparation phases that their trainer or driver manages before the race according to each horse : one or more outings on the track , with more or less intense speed work and sometimes adjustments in the harness . Jumps horses , some of them , jump the test fence before going to the start , otherwise the phase of cantering to the start is their only warm-up , as for the Flat horses that go to the stalls .
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THE COMMON ANCESTORS OF GALLOPERS AND TROTTERS
The Thoroughbred is an “ improver “ that has been used to establish sport horse breeds , whether it be the French Trotter , the Selle Français or the AQPS . The Thoroughbred itself is mostly descended from three foundation sires that were Arabians , the “ Foundation sires .“ The country of birth of the Byerley Turk , who is believed to have been foaled in 1680 , is not known with certainty . The Darley Arabian was born in 1702 in Syria and the Godolphin Arabian in Yemen in 1724 . The Darley Arabian was bought at the age of two by Lord Thomas Darley , then British Consul in Aleppo .
He is the great-great-grandsire of Eclipse , born in 1764 , who can be found in the pedigrees of almost all contemporary Thoroughbreds . In 1791 , the lawyer James Weatherby deemed it useful to establish the genealogy of all horses participating in English races . He therefore drew up the first version of the “ General Stud Book “ which fixed their pedigrees and marked the official birth of the Thoroughbred . A 2013 Austrian study showed that Eclipse , who stood at stud near Epsom , England , from 1771 to 1789 , is present in the pedigree of 95 % of 21 st century Thoroughbreds , but also in 50 % of European sport horses ! The unbeaten chestnut champion , who won eighteen races , has also left his mark on trotters and AQPS horses , as these two breeds are descended from military or farm mares that were crossed with Thoroughbreds to refine their conformation and improve their athletic potential . In the case of the trotter , these marriages were made from 1830 onwards . The first volume of the stud book was published in 1907 and the name “ French Trotter “ was officially adopted in 1922 . Take the case of Jamin , the famous champion born at Haras des Rouges Terres in 1953 who won the Prix d ’ Amérique twice , in 1958 and 1959 , but also the Swedish premier championship Elitloppet and a multitude of others , starting with the first edition of the “ World Championship “, the International Trot , at Roosevelt Raceway , near New York , on a half-mile track , against the best American standardbreds and the Italian Tornese . His 2 nd dam Gladys was a Thoroughbred , so if you go back through Jamin ’ s ancestry , you will find the name of Eclipse several times . To take a more recent reference , Eclipse is one of the ancestors of Kingman , the sire of Sparkling Plenty , bred by Jean-Pierre Dubois and winner of the 2024 Prix de Diane . But he can also be found several times in the pedigree of Idao de Tillard , the defending champion in the Prix d ’ Amérique !
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By Serge Okey
YANNICK FOUIN “ JUMP RACING IS THE MOST EXHILARATING “
Known as the “ King of the Riviera ,“ Yannick Fouin has ranked among the top 10 NH trainers for over fifteen years . A former accomplished flat jockey whose career was cut short , he also tried his hand at sulky driving and now dreams of Prix d ’ Amérique glory as the owner of Jushua Tree , one of the top trotters of the 5-year-old generation . When it comes to the latest news , it ’ s hard to find someone as involved in all three disciplines ( flat , jumps , and trotting ) as Yannick Fouin .
Galorama : You ’ ve been a jockey in all three disciplines . Which one delivers the greatest thrills ? Yannick Fouin : That depends on the level and type of race . But jump racing is the most exhilarating . There ’ s always the risk of not clearing the hurdle . All three disciplines give great sensations , honestly . You can ’ t compare a 1,000-meter flat race to
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