ENGLISH TEXTS cessors.
Championship Format The races will follow the usual format, with the first round of three races on August 7 and the finals, also three races, on August 9. The Elite Flat Races are part of the Poney d’ Or Challenge, in partnership with the Fédération des Éleveurs du Galop. On this occasion, the 2024 Poney d’ Or award will be presented to Tao Fouassier. Beyond the sporting dimension, these championships serve as a true training ground. Whether they pursue a professional career or choose to maintain their passion as amateurs, these young riders represent the future of the French horse racing industry. Join us in Deauville from August 7 to 10 to support these promising young riders in the prestigious setting of Normandy’ s Côte Fleurie.
A MEMORABLE POINT TO POINT, FROM START TO FINISH
By Galorama
The 2025 edition of the French Point-to-Point lived up to all its promises, and the challenge taken on by the new team, Violaine Trapenard, Baptiste Ferté, Thomas Clayeux, and all the volunteers supporting them, was a resounding success. The event came back to life on July 19 th in Vaumas, at the Clayeux family’ s facilities, and the organizers’ commitment to making it a highlight filled with warmth and connection was clearly felt. The result? Unforgettable memories, shared joy all around, impressive athletic performances, and already the desire to return! Véronique Verva and Clélia Moncorgé( Karisma Consulting) share a behind-the-scenes look at the event, with a special mention for Tao Fouassier and Heatherton Cheetah, who won the race we had the pleasure of sponsoring alongside them: the Prix Karisma Consulting – GA- LORAMA, under the proud gaze of his father, Adrien Fouassier. Philippine Madamet carried on the family talent by finishing second, just ahead of Zoé Trapenard, who completed a determined and competitive podium. Congratulations to them all!
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PEDAGO
� PAGE 118
By Céline Gualde
WHO WERE THE ROYAL MARES, MATRIARCHS OF THE THOROUGHBRED?
As the premium ARQANA August Sales approach, potential buyers are poring over the catalogue, scrutinizing the maternal lines of each horse with great care. Nowadays, excellence is sought more on the dam’ s side than the sire’ s. But that hasn’ t always been the case! Very little information has been preserved about the foundation mares of the thoroughbred breed, as they were once considered of lesser importance. Recent scientific studies are now shedding light on these matriarchs.
They are called the“ Royal Mares” because they were imported at the request of King Charles II of England in the second half of the 17 th century. These broodmares are mentioned in the first edition of John Cheny’ s racing calendar, published in 1743:“ King Charles II sent his Master of the Horse abroad to find well-bred stallions and mares for breeding, and the mares imported by the King and their descendants were called Royal Mares.” This mention of the“ Royal Mares” was later included in the first edition of the General Stud Book, the foundational registry of the thoroughbred breed compiled by Lord James Weatherby in 1791. Very little is known about the identities of these royal mares, and many thoroughbred lines simply trace back to“ a royal mare” with no further detail. However, in the late 19 th century, Australian researcher Bruce Lowe began compiling and classifying these maternal lines. He meticulously
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