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FABIEN RYCROFT “ I ENJOY BOTH DISCIPLINES EQUALLY “
By Serge Okey
Head of Écurie Elag and a wealth management specialist , Fabien Rycroft also manages an impressive portfolio of about fifty horses across all racing disciplines . Having transitioned from trotting to flat racing , the co-founder of Vitalepargne finds equal joy in ownership , whether at Vincennes or ParisLongchamp . For him , racing is all about meaningful connections .
2023 Prix de l ’ Arc de Triomphe History will remember the phenomenal late surge of Ace Impact . But let ’ s not forget that trailing just behind , Onesto also stormed down the Longchamp straight , narrowly missing second place by a short head . That prestigious third place will forever remain etched in Fabien Rycroft ’ s memory . Though he owned just a 5 % share in Fabrice Chappet ’ s champion , the moment was unforgettable — or partially so . Overwhelmed by emotion at its peak , the Écurie Elag owner recalls it as a bit of a blur : “ It ’ s crazy — I have a sort of black hole . I remember the entrance to the straight and the last hundred meters , but everything in between is a haze . Still , it was an unforgettable moment . Watching your horse make such a comeback , you cheer like never before . An unparalleled emotion “. As the owner of about fifty horses , split evenly between flat and trotting , Rycroft sees “ three to four horses race each week “. “ Ninety percent of the time , I watch them on Equidia . I ’ m not the nervous type . Overall , racing is pure joy . I have absolute trust in my trainers . I never interfere with their decisions , and I accept every defeat — it makes the victories all the sweeter “.
“ First and foremost , it ’ s about human connections “ Co-founder of Vitalepargne , a wealth management firm with offices in Caen , Bordeaux , Nantes , Paris , and Amiens , Rycroft thrives in teamwork — both at work and in racing . “ Horses are primarily about human connections “. His journey began with Yoann Rémi Le Mée and Jean-Pierre Lamarre , who “ gave him his start ,“ followed by Louis Baudron , Jean-Etienne and Jean-Pierre Dubois , and Mathieu Millet , with whom his ownership career reached new heights . Today , Rycroft collaborates with names like Christophe Ferland , Alessandro Botti , Fabrice Chappet , and Éric Raffin . But the Dubois family remains a cornerstone of his racing network . A close friend of Louis Baudron and his wife , Amandine , Rycroft naturally transitioned from trotting to flat racing . His associates , Igor de Maack and bloodstock agent Ghislain Bozo , also opened the gates of Chantilly to him . Before that , this entrepreneurial spirit decided to establish his own stable in 2018 : Écurie Elag , named after his daughters Élise ( 15 ) and Agathe ( 12 ). However , Rycroft mainly works through partnerships , holding 10-30 % shares on average . “ I actually have very few horses running in my own silks ( black with yellow stripes ). I don ’ t have the financial clout of a Wertheimer or an Aga Khan ,“ he laughs . Aesthetically , he leans “ slightly more towards flat racing “. Economically , too : “ The market depth and liquidity are much better . Plus , a winner at 2 or 3 years old immediately attracts multiple offers . In trotting , profitability takes much longer “. While Rycroft remains a financial strategist , ensuring his investments at least break even , he doesn ’ t differentiate much emotionally between a trotting victory with Give Me Cash in the Coupe des 6 Ans at Cagnes-sur-Mer or a flat racing triumph with Lucky Wine in the Qatar Grand Handicap des Flyers at ParisLongchamp on Arc day . The fundamentals remain constant . For this multi-horse owner , racing is above all a collective adventure . “ It ’ s so much better when shared with others . Many connections have turned into friendships . I love the horses , the thrill of winning , but human relationships are what I value most “. For this enthusiast , transitioning between disciplines is almost a way of life — a balancing act : “ I enjoy both disciplines equally . Winning a Group race in either trotting or flat racing is extraordinary . Without being pejorative , trotting is more accessible to the public , and I love its laid-back vibe and approachable people . Flat racing is more sophisticated , but the ceremonial aspect is very appealing . On Arc day or at Ascot , you rub shoulders with the elite of this world . The setting is excellent . It ’ s a real pleasure “. Fabien Rycroft doesn ’ t rule out dedicating “ even more time “ to racing in the future . Beyond his passion and love for the connections — be it in trotting , flat racing , or even jump racing — this vibrant entrepreneur has a little ace up his sleeve : “ People say I have a lucky touch “.
PAGE 83 Fabien Rycroft and his wife Caroline . © Fabien Rycroft
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