GALORAMA: Why horse racing?
S. BENAROUSSI: I grew up in the south of France where the horse has a prominent place. I have always loved the animal, and I rode a lot in my youth. My introduction to racing, however, is more recent, and I immediately fell in love with the sport. I find the beauty of the horse in motion captivating and this industry increasingly fascinating as I discover more about it.
I am lucky enough to experience very strong emotions alongside my horses, both on the Flat and over jumps, and I take great pleasure in going to the gallops in the morning or to the races in the afternoon. I find the daily work, the involvement of the whole team, the fine-tuning, the meticulous details, the personalised objectives very intriguing and inspiring. My favourite discipline remains jump racing, which gives me an incredible thrill: the spectacle of these horses clearing obstacles at full speed, the beauty of their movement and the work involved are amazing. I have a lot of young horses, and I can’t wait for next year to see them make their debuts.
G. You have a runner in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, what does that mean to you?
SB. The whole adventure is incredible, and I realise how lucky I am to have a runner in such a race. Zarakem’s second place in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Gr1) at Ascot was memorable, especially as we were there with Nicolas de Chambure of Haras d’Etreham and Nicky de Balanda of NBB Racing. The excitement, the atmosphere, the race, the horse, the team, everything was fantastic. What I love about racing is sharing it, whether with the close circle of our team or more broadly with all enthusiasts.
G. Why GALORAMA?
SB. I have always loved entrepreneurship, and the dynamism associated with new ventures. I have invested in many business sectors, including board sports, which also combine speed and technical skill. I was working on a press project a few years ago, which didn’t come to fruition, but which had greatly aroused my curiosity. Horse racing is a fantastic breeding ground for innovation, and I want to work for this industry that continues to fascinate me. Faced with all the challenges it faces, it seems important to me to act whenever the opportunity arises and for us all to pull in the same direction to make a difference.
In this sense, GALORAMA combines innovation to meet the needs of professionals, international reach to be part of a market without borders and openness to bring a fresh perspective to racing news. GALORAMA is a very young start-up with real ambitions and a multi-talented team working together. Its commitment to racing is also reflected in its offering, with a digital magazine available exclusively free of charge, and commercial opportunities at controlled costs.
G. What does the world of horse racing mean to you?
SB. An exciting arena, an industry undergoing great change and a lot of sporting emotions.