ENGLISH TEXTS could not understand why horses from Enghien were running at Auteuil and vice versa.” Running jump races at both Enghien, before its closure in 2016, and Auteuil has long divided opinion and sparked debate. One of the pioneers of this approach was Guillaume Macaire:“ He was one of the first to present hurdle and steeplechase horses at both racecourses,” recalls Dominique Boulard.“ His training methods and professionalism made it possible. Jehan, a fine horseman, has also always had very well-schooled horses over obstacles. His runners rarely fell.”
Under the Jean-Luc Lagardère era While Baron Édouard de Rothschild, former president of France Galop, enabled female jockeys to become increasingly present in the peloton through the introduction of a weight allowance, his predecessor Jean-Luc Lagardère also revolutionised horse racing. At the end of the 1990s, the decentralisation of race meetings and betting-support races took place:“ France Galop is galloping, but it is also France,” he declared.“ Do not be afraid. There will be no Parisian centralism. We are all provincials. I myself took my first steps in racing with my father at the small racecourse of Auch, in my native Gers.” This was a significant step forward that put an end to the North – South divide.“ Before, running in Paris was a real expedition,” Dominique
Boulard recalls.“ When I was training for the Haras du Quesnay in 1985, there were races in the Paris region reserved exclusively for provincial trainers and horses. Nowadays, there is no longer any segregation. If you look at Jérôme Reynier, Henri- Alex Pantall or Stéphane Wattel, they do not train in the Paris region. In NH racing, neither do Guillaume Macaire, François Nicolle or Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé.”
The mark left by François Boutin When Dominique Boulard first met Jehan Bertran de Balanda, the latter was still a young jockey in François Boutin’ s yard:“ I worked for him for five years. Jehan, being older than me, had already been there for some time. Everyone who worked for François Boutin was marked by him. We all kept a certain bond between us, it’ s hard to explain. The son of a farmer, François Boutin was very human with his staff. His training methods never really changed over the years. If he were still training today, he would win just as many races. To succeed in this profession, observation, discipline and memory are essential. François Boutin managed to create a team spirit and a family spirit … Jehan kept that mentality within his own stable, staying close to his horses and his staff. Whenever I saw him at Maisons-Laffitte, he would spend a long time stroking and praising his horses. He is someone who is available, open, and who has always cooperated with the press. For his final race, there was a large crowd at Auteuil. Everyone was delighted to see him leave through the front door. Professionals and punters alike, we were all happy for him.”
Restoring greater appeal At a time when horse racing is facing difficult conditions, marked by declining betting turnover, fewer provincial races and lower prize money, Dominique Boulard offers a clear-eyed assessment of the situation:“ I regularly have my coffee in PMU bars in Chantilly. I meet punters there, but very few of them bet at the terminal. Eighty percent scratch cards or play Rapido. I knew the days when there were only two Tiercés per week. Quintés were developed to increase revenue, but the winnings are no longer the same. Anyone who landed the Tiercé back then changed their life and could buy a house.” Simply( re) creating the desire among young people and families to attend the races is not enough:“ There are crowds at the races during major events, whether at ParisLongchamp or Auteuil, but our beautiful sport lacks attractiveness. Those who attend for the first time are generally won over. Let us hope this will translate into economic returns in the years to come, because that is our lifeblood. A message of hope shared by all.
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