ENGLISH TEXTS
He has a remarkable pedigree as he is also the full brother of Master Dino , winner of the ‘ Renaud du Vivier ’ ( Gr1 ) and 3
� PAGE 66in the ‘ Alain du Breil ’ ( Gr1 ). He is also the only horse to have beaten Jigme , who has just been syndicated at a fairly high rate .”
It doesn ’ t really have much to do with racing , to be honest . And it ’ s not my first memory that I ’ m going to talk about , but the first time I took my wife , Marie , there . We had just got married , it was in the early 80s . I was so happy to show her Auteuil and I had booked a table for two at the panoramic restaurant . We ordered and the wine arrived . An hour later , we still had nothing else so ... we left without having lunch ! And the wine was quite good .
From a physical standpoint , “ he has an impressive physique , standing at 1.72m , which is very good for the discipline . He shows great composure , with a powerful stride and ease over obstacles . We have been looking for a son of Doctor Dino for a long time , already having a stallion by Saint des Saints through Na Has . Our choice is to prioritize quality by offering sons of very established stallions , both out of intent and to meet the ever more premium market demand . The breeding market for jumpers has slowed down somewhat in recent years . The broodmare population , especially in the Central-East , does not have as many ‘ carrossed ’ mares as before , and we hope that with Master d ’ Oc ’ s physique , we can bring some size and bone back . Regarding the conditions , we chose to launch him at a price we consider reasonable , € 3,200 , with the aim that the horse starts working from the first year .”
� PAGE 64JACQUES DÉTRÉ OWNER ,
Al Capone II , all the same ! That burst of speed , that finish , it was really something to see !
NICOLAS BERTRAN DE BALANDA BROKER ,
I don ’ t have much perspective on this project . It ’ s hard to say . But if we can do it at Auteuil , why not do it at Longchamp ? If the project is technically viable ! I would agree with any project that would accelerate and facilitate the renovation of Auteuil , to make it a place where we can once again welcome our friends , our clients , and all those who share our love of jump racing . So even an idea as incongruous as an all-weather track at Auteuil will suit me if it goes in the direction of Auteuil ’ s renewal . Today , this racecourse is expensive and if we renovated it , it would be less so , and it would be a virtuous investment . Jump racing probably has good years ahead of it because it has well recovered , because it is once again attracting an international clientele , which is getting frustrated in Great Britain and Ireland . We have a good card to play with Auteuil .
BERNARD DE CROIX COMMENTATOR ,
FRANÇOIS DOUMEN TRAINER ,
have agreed to answer us .
WHAT IS YOUR VERY FIRST
MEMORY OF AUTEUIL ?
Amanda Zetterholm : “ Master d ’ Oc is a magnificent gray horse with a very impressive stride and remarkable ease over obstacles . He has a very calm temperament . He won his Group impressively ahead of Jigme .”
WHO IS THE GREATEST
STEEPLECHASER OF ALL TIME IN YOUR OPINION ?
AN ALL-WEATHER TRACK AT
AUTEUIL , DO YOU BELIEVE IT ?
THE 2024 ARC :
A GREAT YEAR ?
BACK TO THE ARTICLE �The Arc rating is regularly quite low , and this edition should not catch up with the average .
ENGLISH TEXTS
The winner was my favorite , so I was happy to see her win ( prediction made the day before the race , editor ’ s note ). I thought it was a beautiful race , as often in the Arc . There may not have been a great champion at the start , but the winner is certainly exceptional . She ’ s a magnificent filly and her performances throughout the season have been very good . She handled the distance well , accelerated notably , and fought hard . She ’ s a good winner . The Vermeille-Arc double is never easy .
But after all , who cares ! You can ’ t win every time . It was a very beautiful day , like the day before on Saturday , and that ’ s what matters above all . We may not have seen a champion , but all those who came had a great day .
Images , scenes from Auteuil that are now so distant that they sometimes merge between memory and imagination ... What is the first of these memories ? Perhaps the long queues in front of the ticket offices where , having emerged en masse from the Porte d ’ Auteuil metro station , racegoers bought their tickets before crossing the track via a sandy path . Or perhaps the three infields , on which life sparkled . There were wooden huts in which glass bottles , white for mint , red for grenadine and yellow for lemon , overlooked a stall of sandwiches with pâté , sausage or herring fillets , a stall on which an antique percolator , a metal pyramid , spouted Viandox , coffee or hot chocolate through a seemingly magical manipulation . Perhaps it was the first time I galloped between the big open ditch and the railing of the central lawn ( Tonkin , Madagascar ?) to see the end of the race ? The little boy at the railing couldn ’ t see much then . It was from the cheers of the crowd in the stands that he knew the horses had just cleared the double barrier , cheers that turned into screams at the landing side of the last hurdle , shortly before the first ones appeared . Perhaps also the first jump of the water jump in front of the stands , this moving suspension with an uncertain outcome ? The first return of the horses , sweating and blowing , which then crossed the public between the track and the scales ? Or the exit from the racecourse to the shouts of the many Paris-Turf sellers and coach drivers : “ Porte Maillot-Place Clichy-Barbès !“, “ Opéra-République-Bastille !“ etc . The memory of a particular horse is less old . Karcimont , with his fine career that seemed eternal to me ... The modest Zécil , Pique Puce , Ventôse , probably remaining in my memory because they were grey , and children like greys . Or , distant but so vivid , the memory of Spirou , the first experience of tragedy , at the landing side of the medium open ditch ?
It ’ s probably Trypolo , one of my father ’ s best horses when I was a child . He had been relegated from a Prix La Haye Jousselin , harshly in my opinion , and had won the Maurice Gillois . He was grey , and kids love greys . There ’ s also Katko , of course .
It ’ s really a difficult question because there are different kinds of chasers , each with their style and their record . Vautour made a huge impression on me at Cheltenham . In France , I would say So French . He had all the qualities and I adored him . He was very classy . He exuded quality . I also really liked the colors of Magalen Bryant , who has done so much for French jump racing .
Among those who have been frequenting Auteuil for a few decades , there are probably few who will not spontaneously and enthusiastically come up with the name Katko to answer this question . A tall , lanky chestnut , Katko , son of Carmarthen , a stallion who left his mark on National Hunt breeding , and Kotkie , daughter of the tough Rheffic , never raced anywhere other than on a Butte Mortemart that he will have marked forever . Maurice Gillois and Ferdinand Dufaure Chases ( at 4 years old , of course ) then three Grand Steeplechases de Paris in a row ! Katko , on his many good days , raced alone . With his immense action , at his own pace , he gradually distanced his opponents and jumped the obstacles alone . Without being truly impressive , his domination was inexorable . But the most striking image he left me with is that of his jump over the rail-ditch and fence . I don ’ t remember a horse clearing Auteuil ’ s most formidable obstacle like he did . From take-off to landing , Katko seemed to have barely moved . The “ Juge de Paix “ reduced to the
Of course , it sounds strange at first , but you need to know the details . A regular at Auteuil , attached to that landscape , might initially reject the idea , but if the project is more feasible at Auteuil than at ParisLongchamp , you shouldn ’ t close the door . I try to keep an open mind , so we need to consider the pros and cons . If it can contribute to improving the situation , nothing should be off-limits .
ENGLISH TEXTS
Auteuil with an all-weather track ? The tracks of the French “ temple of jump racing “ surrounded by a sand track for flat horses ? Once the surprise of learning about this possibility has passed , the questions and concerns arise . How much land will be left for hurdlers , mainly on the “ opposite side “ straight ? It is an already very busy space , on which all the fields gallop in the same places , unlike that of the steeplechasers . We have already raced on the flat at Auteuil , but exceptionally , during the war , without it causing any problems , it seems to me . But it was on the turf and there were fewer races . For these possible flat races , we assume that the starts will not be given with an elastic start . How then to move the stalls without the tractor and the metal stalls themselves damaging the jumps tracks ? In addition to the technical aspect , there is the aesthetic aspect . Sand tracks reduce the green space , when they don ’ t give a racecourse a rather sinister wasteland look ( especially when it borders a trotting track ). One can imagine that the economic reason -which remains to be specified- could possibly justify the functional taking over at Auteuil . Without enthusiasm .
role of a primary school pawn . The big black back bristling with stakes to that of a doormat ! Then he crossed the finish line without ever worrying about his opponents . Of course , there was Hyères III before him , Ucello II and Mid Dancer afterwards , but Katko leaves the memory of the absolute jumper . Even in the opinion of his trainer , Bernard Sécly , he had more class than his other famous charge , Al Capone II . The latter , author of a historic series of seven consecutive successes in the Prix La Haye-Jousselin , acquired admiration and affection , while Katko approached heroism . Al Capone II has his -unfaithful- statue near the parade ring , while Katko arouses an emotion tinged with unease when you are in front of his skeleton , at the Auteuil museum
Calandagan , followed by Ghostwriter ) in the International Stakes , did not impose her as an obvious favourite . It ’ s obviously an excellent filly who , without being a crack , does not tarnish the race record . Three of the first five are out of Camelot , a son of Montjeu -another great Arc winner- who would have won the Triple Crown if he had not found the enigmatic Encke in his path at the finish of the Doncaster St Leger . The other two are by Sea The Stars . The genes for stamina , for resistance in the effort , have spoken .
What will remain in the memories of the 2024 Prix de l ’ Arc de Triomphe ? More enthusiastic memories than those of the victories of Carroll House and Marienbard , but certainly less vibrant than those left by Dancing Brave , Peintre Célèbre or Zarkava , among other dazzling winners . The race was played out at the front . Without a dedicated pacemaker , Los Angeles , starting from stall 10 , moved “ head and rail “ to set a regular pace , neither slow nor very fast . In his wake , runners who had started closer to the rail than him : Bluestocking ( stall 3 ), Zarakem ( 1 ) and Sosie ( 6 ) in particular . On the outside of Bluestocking at the very beginning of the climb , Haya Zark suddenly gave way and caused trouble at the back of the field , which particularly affected Mqse de Sévigné . Los Angeles launched the race quite early , at the 4-furlong mark , where Ryan Moore started to ask him for an effort . Bluestocking and Sosie were following him very freely and launched their attack in the straight , followed by Aventure . Tough in the effort , Bluestocking was only “ pushed “ to the post by Aventure , Los Angeles keeping third place ahead of Sosie and Sevenna ’ s Knight , the only one of the first seven to have come from the back . The Prix Vermeille form was therefore the one to believe in to have the first two roles of the 2024 Arc . It was quite difficult for many to predict with conviction , even if Bluestocking ’ s entourage had paid a hefty sum to supplement their 4-year-old filly . The still vivid summer images of Bluestocking clearly dominated in Great Britain by Goliath in the King George and then by City of Troy ( and
It ’ s a bittersweet memory . My father took me to Auteuil to see a horse he had broken in called Mandarin . He had been his first trainer . As he was a late developer , he advised the Hennessys , his owners , to give him a little time . But then Mr Hennessy gave him to his wife and she wanted to send him to Fulke Walwyn and there you go ... I was a bit upset but it was also a lesson .
Hyères III , I think . She also won the Grand Steeple three times ( between 1964 and 1966 ) and at that time , there were hardly any mares at that level . I especially remember the kind of invincibility that seemed to characterise her . We only talked about her because the Grand Steeple was still a huge event nationally . She was a big , strong mare who , if my memory serves me correctly , jumped a bit like Ucello . But that ’ s not to mention the horses I ’ ve trained . And I ’ ve been lucky enough to have a few champions in my yard ! The one who will always
ENGLISH TEXTS be my favourite is Algan . People didn ’ t realise what a horse he was . He ran 77 races , compared to 65 for Al Capone II and 54 for The Fellow . I calculated that he had covered 300km in races , from 3 to 12 years old , over ten seasons . He won the Grand Prix d ’ Automne Hurdle and the King George Chase . That day , Barton Bank was leading when he fell at the last fence , but Algan knew how to finish his races and maybe he would have won anyway . David Nicholson , Barton Bank ’ s trainer , was furious . He was never very welcoming , whereas his colleagues were ( and he rode for Fulke Walwyn when he was a jockey , editor ’ s note ). Algan lived to be 29 years old , in 2017 , near Alençon , where he was born , at François Halgand ’ s , the co-breeder to whom he owed his name .
Jean-Marc Betsch is one of the partners at the Méheudin clinic in Orne , which now has twenty-eight vets and as many assistants . In the late 1980s , this surgeon completed his internship at the University of Pennsylvania , a benchmark in teaching and research . “ There , I saw everything that was possible , they were decades ahead of France ! In our country , forty years ago , no one was doing tendon ultrasounds . Being able to put an ultrasound machine in the car was a huge step forward in terms of diagnosis .“
The evolution of techniques has almost made the general equine vet disappear , at least for the ultimate treatment of the sport horse in the broad sense . The specialisation of practitioners developed from the 2000s onwards . Sébastien Caure , a pillar of the Livet Equine Veterinary Hospital Centre ( CHVE ), which brings together thirty-one practitioners in Calvados , explains : “ What has really changed in the last thirty years is that we are bringing together a lot of different skills in the same place . The omniscient vet is over . The principle is to identify the horse ’ s pathology as precisely as possible , and if we know what it has , we know how to treat it and make a prognosis for its career . So we need vets who are experts in their field and excellent technical facilities .“ This includes tools such as scanners , MRI , scintigraphy ... all three of which are available at Livet , which also boasts a cutting-edge neonatology unit , led by the brilliant vet Valérie Picandet .
� PAGE 72If we are thinking of building an all-weather track at Auteuil , it ’ s because there is a good reason , which I imagine is linked to the revenue that this project would generate . But beyond the significant investment that this would represent , I wonder if we would know how to organize an event likely to be as successful as the Longchamp Thursdays . It seems to me that we should first see what it would entail in terms of organization for horsemen . Is it worth the effort ?
Some areas of Normandy are akin to medical deserts . You call a dentist ? They are not taking on new patients . You want an appointment with a dermatologist ? The waiting time can be close to a year . But if , on the other hand , it is a horse that needs treatment , Normandy becomes the place to be . Excellent specialists in all equine pathologies - from eyes to intestines , including locomotion and neonatology - are gathered there in several very important care centres , illustrating the enormous progress made by veterinary medicine in a few decades .
Dr Bruno Baup , who practices at the CHVE in Grenade-sur-Garonne , Haute-Garonne , confirms this need for “ a precise response to each request , which means having the most qualified and diversified team possible in terms of skills “. In this equine clinic , which has the label of equine hospital , they are developing orthopaedic shoes born from 3D printers as well as diathermy , a treatment technique based on an electric current that transfers energy deep into the tissues and has a biostimulating effect .
It was a very open Arc and as often in these cases , we end up with a finish that does not seem to be top-notch . Open races rarely reveal great champions . To be continued !
The improvement of treatment protocols and equipment makes it possible to save - in terms of life as
ENGLISH TEXTS
A mandatory prevention protocol was thus put in place in 2021 for the Melbourne Cup in Australia , a mythical race but one that has been heavily criticised due to fatal horse accidents : five between 2010 and 2020 . Investigations showed that most of these deaths could have been avoided if the horse ’ s fragility had been detected beforehand .
Thanks to advances in medical imaging , vets are “ less and less in the dark “, as Jean-Marc Betsch puts it . Interventional scanners , which are used in some clinics like Méheudin , allow vets to move around a stationary horse , so they don ’ t have to anaesthetise it and / or take images during surgery .
well as sports career - horses that were once condemned , for a wide range of different pathologies : fractures , colic , complicated foaling , respiratory problems ... According to Fabrice Rossignol , surgeon at the Grosbois clinic , which is located at the famous trotting training centre , everything has changed in recent decades , especially for the management of fractures : “ We have improved surgical techniques , team training , general anaesthesia methods , and assistance with recovery . Modern implants ( plates ) from 3D printing are also a major advance .“
Veterinary medicine has not finished evolving , it is even doing so at the speed of light ! Jean-Marc Betsch is convinced that the importation of the PET scan , classically used for the detection of cancerous tumours in humans , will be the next major advance from the United States . “ Traditional imaging tools can show an anomaly , but we don ’ t necessarily know if it is the cause of lameness . The PET scan provides very precise physiological information about inflammation . We inject radioactive glucose into a horse and if the product is more active in one place , it reveals a ‘ hot ’ anomaly . In the United States , PET scans are performed on horses almost like ultrasounds .“
The limbs of horses pre-entered in the race are now scanned with a machine that allows them to be kept standing under sedation and not lying down under general anaesthesia . In 2023 , fifty-two horses were scanned and five were excluded from the competition . The Melbourne Cup has not had a fatal accident since this protocol was put in place , which saves the lives of champions but also potentially the race itself !
Standing equine surgery , developed in France by Tamara de Beauregard , a veterinary surgeon at the Meslay-du- Maine clinic , is a major step forward because it avoids the complicated recovery phase , when the horse ’ s weight becomes its enemy and can ruin a successful operation . “ I started thanks to trainer Guillaume Macaire ,“ says the surgeon . “ I had operated on a Group horse which , unfortunately , fractured its leg on waking up . For the next operation , Guillaume said to me : ‘ Manage , you just have to operate on it standing up !’“ This is the technique in vogue for fractures that are not too complicated . “ It means having a good team with an anaesthetist who has to make sure that the horse is not too sleepy but doesn ’ t move either , and three other people in charge of taking X-rays during the operation .“ The Meslay-du-Maine clinic is the only one in France where electrical conversion is practiced , a surgery aimed at solving certain cardiac fibrillations that cause poor performance and pulmonary haemorrhage by placing electrodes in the horse ’ s heart and shocking it under general anaesthesia .
BACK TO THE ARTICLE � � PAGE 73But the early detection of pathologies during consultations , which allows for preventive action , is perhaps the real revolution in contemporary veterinary medicine . Modern diagnostic tools combined with a science of clinical examination , which is culturally one of the strengths of French practitioners , allow for this essential prevention for the career management of the sport horse . “ Detecting problems at their very beginning , before they take a catastrophic turn , is the key to everything ,“ explains Sébastien Caure . “ This is of course done through imaging techniques , but also through raising awareness among clients : they now understand better that the earlier we act , the more chances we give the horse , whatever its problem .“ Regular monitoring can avoid having to repair a tendonitis or a fracture later on .
SÉBASTIEN CAURE , THE KING OF CLINICAL EXAMINATION
Sébastien Caure likes to start by palpating his four-legged patients : his firm , expert hands feel their backs , limbs and hindquarters . His entire gloved arm explores their pelvises from the inside . Then , this graduate of the Nantes school , class of 1994 , observes the horses in action according to an unchanging ritual : flexion tests , trotting in a straight line , on the circle on hard and then deep ground ... before finally a sentence is passed : the horse has this , and that ... A hypothesis that the targeted use of imaging generally confirms . Sébastien Caure , an orthopaedic surgeon who is consulted in Normandy , at the CHVE in Livet ,
118ENGLISH TEXTS from Switzerland and Alsace , will not ruin you with X-rays ! He likes to solve puzzles the old-fashioned way , trusting his encyclopaedic knowledge of the horse rather than scanning it from head to toe , as is often the practice : “ clinical examination first , imaging as support !“. The man is generally warm and approachable but does not give the client false hope . To Yannick Fouin , who presented a filly whose veterinary examination revealed a weak constitution , he asked :
He is the maestro of the Grosbois clinic where he has been practicing since 1994 , the one who receives patients from all over Europe as well as racehorses injured on Parisian racecourses . Fabrice Rossignol also operates in Germany , Belgium , Sweden , the USA and the Middle East . The man is a specialist in respiratory surgery but also in fractures . He chose this discipline “ for the complexity of the field , because there are many things to invent .“ His latest innovations concern the treatment of roaring by nerve implants ( nerve grafts ) and the improvement of muscle prostheses thanks to new generation implants from 3D printing . Fabrice Rossignol also trains surgeons abroad because , according to him , “ a good surgical technique is one that is disseminated and used as much as possible elsewhere .“
“ Many horses that we operate on for fractures race and win again , there are many more than you think ,“ says Tamara de Beauregard . “ Owners and trainers are more aware than before and ask for X-rays in case of an accident .“ The most seriously injured horses must be able to count on their lucky star : a loving and stubborn owner . The crack horse Bon Augure , carrying the MacLennan colours , had just won four consecutive races at Auteuil when another competitor stepped on him in the 2015 Prix de Maisons-Laffitte , severing the tendons in both hind legs . The horse was a gelding , but Lynne and Angus MacLennan still had him transported to Grosbois to save his life . The horse finally returned to the boxes of Adrien Lacombe ( where he is now retired ), his jockey Angelo Gasnier , and won at Auteuil on his comeback race in March 2017 , a year and a half later ! He then went on to win three more races . “ Our philosophy is to give every horse a chance to pull through , as long as it doesn ’ t cause them unnecessary suffering . We consider each case individually ,“ says Lynne MacLennan . “ Bon Augure was our champion and we wanted to save him even if he was only going to be a leisure horse or a retiree in the field . We really didn ’ t imagine that he could race again , and it ’ s a miracle that it happened . But it shows that great stories are possible if we don ’ t euthanize horses prematurely .“ This year , the MacLennans gave a chance to one of their foals , who suffered an open fracture of a hind leg in the field . The limb was hanging by a flap of skin . L ’ Héritier - that ’ s his name - was operated on at the CHVE in Livet by Dr Cyril Tricaud , who placed three plates not under
BACK TO THE ARTICLE � � PAGE 76THE MIRACULOUS HORSES RUNNING ON RACECOURSES
More seriously injured horses are being saved than you might think . Some of them then embark on a racing career or return to the scene of their exploits . One of the most remarkable examples is that of Rhialco , who carried the colours of a true lover of horses , Pierre Coveliers . In 2012 , Rhialco fell at the small open ditch in the Prix Héros XII and shattered his nose into twentytwo pieces . He was , in principle , condemned , but Pierrot Coveliers had decided to save him , and he is not a man to tolerate contradiction . Rhialco was therefore transported to Switzerland where he was operated on by the famous Doctor René Aebischer and his team , for an unprecedented operation : the complete facial reconstruction of the horse , including the sinuses . Two titanium plates of a good twenty centimetres were screwed into him . After a long convalescence spent partly in thalassotherapy , Rhialco returned to his trainer Emmanuel Clayeux and then to Auteuil racecourse where he won again on his comeback and five times in a row from September 2013 , notably winning two Listed races and a Group 2 , the Prix Léon Olry-Roederer ! He finished third in the 2014 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris .
• Do you train in Lourdes ?
• No ... Maisons-Laffitte
• Then don ’ t try !
Photo Sébastien Caure likes to feel his four-legged patients first . BACK TO THE ARTICLE � � PAGE 74FABRICE ROSSIGNOL , INTERNATIONAL STAR OF SURGERY
119ENGLISH TEXTS
In France, three sites have obtained the CHVE (Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire pour Équidés) label: in addition to Livet in Calvados and the equine clinic in Haute-Garonne, there is the Conques clinic, not far from Bordeaux, created in 1981 by Dr Serge Lenormand. The equine hospital label corresponds to specifications defined by the Veterinary Code of Ethics. The requirements are high in terms of premises (e.g. a room for recumbent surgery and a room for standing surgery), equipment and personnel (number of full-time vets, having at least one specialist in surgery or internal medicine, etc.). A vet and an assistant must be present on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to deal with emergencies. CIRALE, a centre of excellence Established in 1999 on the Normandie Equine Vallée site in Goustranville, CIRALE (Centre d’Imagerie et de Recherche sur les Affections Locomotrices Équines) is the Normandy equine centre of the Alfort National Veterinary School. With research, teaching and clinical practice as its vocations, CIRALE is a world-renowned reference centre for the study of locomotor disorders and factors limiting performance in sport and racehorses. The figurehead of CIRALE is Professor Jean-Marie Denoix, a world-renowned specialist in equine locomotor disorders. More recently, the Kinésia physiotherapy centre opened its doors with the aim of developing horse rehabilitation programmes. It should be noted that the horse racing laboratory, dedicated to the fight against doping, is located on the same site.
but over the skin. The major risk, beyond the fracture, was infection of this contaminated wound. Six months later, the third plate was removed from the colt, who lives with a companion pony and will be able to start walking in-hand. His sporting future is obviously very uncertain, but we must leave room for dreams!
While the veterinary profession is becoming increasingly feminised, this conquest does not seem to have yet reached the operating theatres where men remain in the majority. Tamara de Beauregard is, at Meslay-du-Maine, one of the French pioneers of this discipline. A graduate of the Toulouse school in 2004, she then completed an internship and a surgical residency in Ghent, Belgium. Her vocation came very early, as she was four years old when she decided on her future profession: “A horse escaped from my father’s and crashed into a car on the motorway. We had to euthanize it. I said to myself: I want to become a surgeon and save horses.“ Tamara de Beauregard perhaps never feels as good as when her arms are plunged up to her shoulders in the belly of a sleeping horse, whose future depends on her prowess. “It’s adrenaline every day, we face challenges, questioning and surprises every day. That’s rare in a job!“
BACK TO THE ARTICLE � � PAGE 80JEAN-MARC BETSCH , THE FREE ELECTRON
Photos L ’ Héritier was freed from the plates that saved his life ... with a good dose of patience and owners who spared no expense .He answers us from Arizona, where he is attending a conference. The man is a jack-of-all-trades, who did his military service at the Saumur Cavalry School before briefly managing a Thoroughbred stud farm and then joining the Méheudin clinic in 1990, created by Dr Moisant, “the first to consider the trotter as a sport horse“. Jean-Marc Betsch also holds a university degree in equine law and another as a reproduction centre manager. He is also vice-president of the AVEF, the French association of equine veterinarians. A specialist in orthopaedic surgery, he is passionate about sports horse medicine and has participated in numerous studies on the subject. It is no coincidence that Méheudin boasts a treadmill where racehorses can undergo exercise tests by cantering. The clinic, which has undergone major renovation work, merged with the nearby Boisrie clinic in 2021. Activity therefore continues on both sites.
BACK TO THE ARTICLE � � PAGE 79TAMARA DE BEAUREGARD , THE MADONNA OF THE OPERATING THEATRE
THREE EQUINE VETERINARY HOSPITAL CENTRES
BACK TO THE ARTICLE � 120ENGLISH TEXTS
Most breeders will say yes , it reduces vet fees . So , that ’ s a strong argument . But clearly , from a technical point of view , being a vet helps , yes , because you see a lot of horses . You are more aware of problems than a breeder , even a very competent one . You can certainly identify pathologies in your horses , especially at the breeding stage , which will be difficult to manage or which will be handicapping for the rest of their career . So , at that level , yes , it ’ s an advantage . Afterwards , it has a drawback , which is that you become a little paranoid . You see problems everywhere and clearly , from time to time , having too much information hinders decision-making .
� PAGE 80FROM MAN TO HORSE AND VICE VERSA
If horses now have a scanner “ their size “, with a diameter close to a metre , it is thanks to the high percentage of the American population suffering from obesity . The medical care of these people required the creation of these scanners , which could be described as “ high capacity “, which have also been adapted by veterinary clinics . The techniques of coelioscopy or laparoscopy , which allow small cameras to be inserted into the horse ’ s body for minimally invasive surgery , also come from human medicine . For the management of joint rheumatism , on the other hand , the horse is a pioneer ! “ I did my first hyaluronic acid injections in the joints of trotters ten years before it was applied to humans ,“ says Bruno Baup . A treatment designed to “ lubricate “ the joints . “ Equine treatments are precursors for everything related to the use of stem cells and auto-immune material that can be injected into joints or tendons , avoiding the harmful effects of corticosteroids .“ Jean-Marc Betsch points out that in the United States , laboratories are funding equine research on osteoarthritis “ because the horse is a very good model : what works for the equine athlete will work for the human athlete “, the ultimate target market .
HAVE YOU MET THE PERFECT HORSE ?
� PAGE 82Yes , and I was lucky enough to meet her since I bought her . So , I have no merit in saying that she was the perfect horse . It was Mr . Tricot who bred a mare called Perfect Impulse . As proof , I ’ m not a big buyer at public sales and as soon as I saw her , I said to myself that it wasn ’ t possible that people wouldn ’ t buy her . Well , thank you to them because I , yes , I saw the perfect horse and was lucky enough to get her and to see her every morning in the fields . She is magnificent . She has zero flaws physically . She was good . She is very well bred . So , congratulations to her breeder . Afterwards , it all depends on what you call perfection . Perfection is winning . No matter the conformation . She really had it all . That is to say , she is by Polyglot out of Aubane , by Cadoudal . The dam was very good . From a physical point of view , there is not necessarily perfection per se , but there are criteria that are still favorable . Today , if in humans , we measure kids at 13-14 years old who have physical criteria , it ’ s because there are plenty of people who have done analyses and have noticed that to play basketball , it ’ s better to be tall . To jump the obstacles at Auteuil , there are plenty of small horses that have won . But if we take a field , for the most part , we still have a morphotype that is roughly the same , that is to say , long-limbed horses , with a bit of a neck , not too heavy ... And the qualities , the courage . I have a lot of admiration for horses . Whether it ’ s
VIDÉO
DOES BEING A VET HELP WHEN YOU ’ RE A BREEDER ?
BACK TO THE ARTICLE �ENGLISH TEXTS
NH is not just a passion ; it embodies commitment , a tradition of excellence , and a quest for self-improvement , passed down from generation to generation .
a small horse that wins a small race or a very good one , as long as it ’ s a brave one , you can ’ t blame them .
Founded in 1922 , the Club of Gentlemen- Riders et des Cavalières ( Association Law 1901 ) is a true institution within the world of horse racing and draws much of its history from the heritage of the French cavalry and its elite officers . The influence of military events , which long outnumbered those reserved for civilians , has significantly contributed to the growth of race riding , particularly in jumping .
ON THE TRACK
ANY ADVICE FOR YOUNG BREEDERS ?
Thomas Guineheux , 30 , is a key account manager at Socopa ( food distribution ). Licensed for over ten years , he has a record of 56 victories in France , including 36 in NH , his favorite discipline . In 2017 , Thomas represented France at the World Championship for Amateurs ( Fegentri ), which he won in both flat and NH categories . A discipline well-established in the West and closely linked to the Craon racetrack , NH also shines through its prestigious Parisian events : the Prix de France at Auteuil , the Prix du Colonel d ’ Englesqueville at Compiègne , and the Prix Colonel Bernard Marlin at Fontainebleau , races in which Thomas has managed to win .
Since 1945 , the Club has allowed amateur jockeys , known as Gentlemen- Riders et Cavalières , to excel in this spectacular discipline . Today , the circuit is organized around a challenge of 35 events per year , sponsored by WTW Hipcover through the collaboration of Benoit Magnien . These races , as demanding as they are impressive , enable about thirty amateurs — out of 130 annual licensees — to compete at iconic racetracks such as Auteuil , Compiègne and Fontainebleau , during exceptional meetings like the Grand Steeple Chase de Paris or the National-Hund 48H . Since 1955 , Gentlemen-Riders et Cavalières have also had the opportunity to travel thanks to the The Gentlemen ’ s League Fegentri circuit during various stages in Merano ( Italy ), Pardubice ( Czech Republic ), and Waregem ( Belgium ).
I think , patience . Patience and convictions , I think you have to have convictions , believe in certain things , be very well informed . Personally , I learned everything in books . It ’ s surprising because by being in the field , you develop certain skills , but as in many areas , I think it ’ s knowledge that allows you to move forward and once again have convictions so as not to listen to everyone and their dog , not to be swayed by the words of the sweet charlatans who sometimes surround us .
“ I was lucky enough to meet the perfect horse and I bought her !“
BACK TO THE ARTICLE � BACK TO THE ARTICLE �But these events are not reserved for men only . Since the opening of NH to women in 1972 , talented riders such as Barbara Guenet , Tracy Menuet , and more recently Hélène Sourbé ( the only woman to win the Cross-Country Prix Guy Lefrant at Pau twice ) have shown that passion and performance transcend gender . Barbara Guenet , with 168 victories to her credit , has set a new standard by becoming the only woman to top the list in jumping three times . Today , the future is assured with riders like Earine Dubourg , Loeiza Hayères-Fouchard and Camille Dory , all of whom have transitioned from pony racing .
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The latest gem from his breeding operation , Jeu de Thaix , did not get off to a particularly thunderous start : “ Jeu de Thaix is out of Victoire de Thaix , a Voix du Nord mare who was trained by Laurent Viel ,“ recalls his breeder . “ She only raced over the Flat because she had an accident and we had to have screws put in her . She had the aptitude for jumping but we preferred to preserve her health . Her dam , Glorieuse de Thaix , was trained by Alphonse Kleindienst in the East and she didn ’ t have a great racing career . As a foal , Jeu de Thaix himself didn ’ t stand out from the crowd , as he wasn ’ t a big colt . His dam has now produced a colt by Nirvana du Berlais and is in foal to Karaktar .“
Having already won the La Barka Hurdle ( Gr2 ) at Auteuil in late spring , Jeu de Thaix struck again , this time in the Carmarthen Hurdle ( Gr3 ), and is expected to be seen in the Grand Prix d ’ Automne Hurdle ( Gr1 ) on the Butte Mortemart .
The breeding operation has stabilised over time with around twenty broodmares , a number that has remained fairly constant over the seasons . Only the orientation of the progeny has evolved : “ I used to sell all my male foals ,“ explains Michel Bourgneuf , “ but that has changed since Hupeca , of whom I kept 50 %. As for Jeu de Thaix , I didn ’ t intervene in the sale , his trainer Daniela Mele dealt directly with the Papot family .“
The son of Authorized , who runs in the colours of the Papot family , was bred by Michel Bourgneuf , the creator of the “ Thaix “ line , which has produced champions such as Baraka , Alaska and Dica de Thaix .
� PAGE 88Born in Paris , Michel Bourgneuf nonetheless spent his childhood at the races . He studied agriculture in the capital before settling in the Loiret region and then , in 1969 , in the Nièvre region , not far from Cercy-la-Tour , on the former 350-hectare family estate . Quickly caught up in the AQPS fever , endemic in the region , he rose to third place in the breeders ’ rankings a few years after his first foals were born in 1992 , notably thanks to Old River ’ s Ferdinand Dufaure 4yo Chase ( Gr1 ) victory for Claude Cohen . President of the Nièvre AQPS syndicate for 19 years until 2019 , Michel Bourgneuf , with his tall stature and the proverbial softness he never loses , is one of the most important and popular figures in AQPS breeding in France .
The breeder is also counting on Jonca de Thaix and Kouca de Thaix ... “ Jonca was Group-placed last year ( 2
in the Amadou 4yo Hurdle-Gr2 in April after two consecutive victories at Angers and then Auteuil , editor ’ s note ) but she had a health problem after her last race and should be back in competition in a few weeks . We also think very highly of Kouca de Thaix , a 5-year-old daughter of Tunis who has already won at Auteuil , and who the Peltier family have given a bit of a rest . Things aren ’ t going too badly for us this year . We are 13
The Yas Management silks were everywhere during the Qatar Prix de l ’ Arc de Triomphe weekend . The ball was opened on Friday by Mutaz , a 3-year-old colt by Munjiz , who won his third consecutive race in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains ( Gr1 PA ) at Saint-Cloud , trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte and ridden by Guillaume Guedj-Gay . This was followed by Are ’ ej ’ s victory in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments ( Gr1 PA ) at ParisLongchamp , again for trainer Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte , with Alexis Pouchin in the saddle and the successful weekend continued with two more victories at Toulouse the following Tuesday .
thin the breeders ’ rankings , and that with a small number of runners .“
Like many racehorse owners , Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan , founder of Yas , inherited his passion for racing from his father , Sheikh