ENGLISH TEXTS ered and introduced racecourses around the world for Equidia, and regularly presents French racing on Sky Sports Racing. She is also a breeder and owner of Thoroughbreds.
Vicki Gibbins Ireland + Sales As Managing Editor of LAB Racing, Vicki Gibbins has a vast knowledge and experience of racing and the wider equestrian world. With a background specialising in bloodstock, her writing can been read in a number of publications globally, including International Thoroughbred, Racing & Sports. Vicki also represents Trackside – an on-course paddock analysis service used by Weatherbys and various other customers – and is responsible for the publication of L’ informateur.
� PAGE 90
BACK TO THE ARTICLE �
EQUICER
EQUICER’ S CHRONICLE
BECOMING A TRAINER: A LIFE- LONG DREAM, A DAILY CHALLENGE
In the shadow of racing’ s biggest names, a new generation of racehorse trainers is trying to find its place.
With limited resources but plenty of determination, these young professionals are learning to navigate between their dreams and economic reality.“ I got my first win in the provinces. It wasn’ t ParisLongchamp, but I cried.” It’ s been two years since this young trainer obtained his public license. Like him, many have chosen the world of flat racing, but behind the idealized image of the talented trainer lies a much more complex reality. According to a survey conducted in spring 2025 among flat racing trainers, those who have been established for less than three years start out with an average of 12 horses and the hope of rapid growth. Yet most struggle to make it past the first three years, held back by difficult access to clients, labor shortages, and at times tight cash flow, according to their responses. While 88 % of trainers surveyed knew where they wanted to set up when applying for their license, only one in three expressed a desire to settle in Chantilly- often due to family ties in the provinces or concerns about high living and operating costs. This choice will have a long-term impact on their business strategy. On average, in France, a young trainer goes from managing 12 to 26 horses in three years; in Chantilly, the average climbs from 13 to 35 horses. Beyond the training itself, running the business quickly takes center stage.“ You just want to take care of your horses. But you become a recruiter, an accountant, a salesperson, a communicator.” Many regret the lack of startup support. Some describe it as a real shock. Despite their passion, testimonials highlight the precarious nature of the early days: low income, boarding fees driven downward at the expense of profitability, and a market already under pressure that risks further fragility. To sustain the racing industry in the Chantilly area, a project is under consideration: a trainer incubator, envisioned as a launchpad ecosystem for young professionals. Shared, innovative infrastructure, along with broad managerial and technical support. The idea resonates: 86 % of trainers considering Chantilly say they are interested in the initiative. In a societal context where young trainers prioritize animal welfare, the future of the profession is also in question. Striking a delicate balance between passion and profitability, the activity continues to attract, but there is an urgent need to rethink the model. Otherwise, tomorrow, who will train the racehorses?
The trainer incubator project study was commissioned by the Community of Municipalities of the Aire Cantilienne, France Galop and Association des entraîneurs de Galop, with consultants: Horse Development, Cerfrance PNS, and Architracks.
BACK TO THE ARTICLE �
165 # 11