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positive but modest, in a context of high indebtedness, exceeding 100 %. These data confirm that the profitability of flat-racing trainers depends on a fragile balance between the number of horses in training, race performance, and cost control, within a demanding and competitive environment. This economic analysis provides an overall view of the major challenges facing the sector: securing income and controlling costs, with a constant search for balance between investments, expenses, and value creation.
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REPOR- TAGE
THE PRIX D’ AMÉRI- QUE IN FESTIVAL MODE
BY SERGE OKEY
By spreading it over three days, trotting racing aimed to give a new dimension to its annual event: the Prix d’ Amérique Legend Race. A successful gamble? Quantitatively, yes, with nearly 55,000 admissions, including more than 35,000 on race day itself. Qualitatively, the assessment is more nuanced following Gims’ shortened concert. But this shift toward a festival format opens up interesting prospects for future editions.
Packed grandstands. Nine supporter sections chanting at the top of their lungs, scarves, caps and jerseys in the colors of their idols. Pyrotechnic guards of honor, stilt walkers in American colors, immersive entertainment, fervor … At 105 years old, the Prix d’ Amérique remains a tremendous popular celebration. An event that was almost“ sold out.”“ Nearly 37,000 admissions,” reports Valérie François, Marketing Director of the SETF. That is the very positive flip side of this world championship of trotting racing, to which should be added a fine surprise winner at the finish, Hokkaido Jiel, crowning more than forty years of partnership between his owner, the Luck stable, and his loyal trainer Jean-Luc Dersoir. The latter had to wait until the age of 71 to lift his first Grail. The other lasting image of this edition is, of course, the mastery of Franck Nivard, known as“ Francky the cold hand,” delighted to have defied the odds at an attractive price of 37 / 1, at the end of a“ golden race.” A sixth victory, quietly achieved, for the Norman, who looked as if he had just come out of the mine on the podium, his face smeared with the famous cinder track of Vincennes. We will also remember the children’ s joy, walking arm in arm with the drivers on the red carpet at the start of the parade, the traditional presence of the Republican Guard, and that giant American“ truck” set up in the middle of the track. On the downside, a few snags marred the pinnacle of trotting racing: long queues, betting stakes still declining(€ 16.8 million wagered on the Prix d’ Amérique at the PMU, – 5.4 %), and that cursed interruption of Gims’ concert. The artist had planned a halfhour show; he played barely 20 minutes following technical incidents.“ The timing is so finely tuned that we had no other choice but to interrupt his concert. We couldn’ t delay the races,” explains Valérie François. Add to this the death of a Swedish journalist after falling ill, and the accident involving an Equidia colleague on the track: the karma of this Prix d’ Amérique ran through every color.
“ Race, live and game” Taking a step back, the overall impression nevertheless remains positive. Trotting racing was taking a big risk by changing the format. And yet the figures are encouraging:“ More than 53,000 admissions over the three days, numerous media spinoffs, a magical atmosphere on Saturday around DJ Yann Muller with a young audience. We’ re on the right track,” assures Valérie François.“ There are things to finetune, but we’ ve ticked all the boxes.”“ The right track” refers to this turn toward the very trendy concept of“ sportainment,” aiming to offer both sport and entertainment.“ Moving from a highlight to a festival”: that is the chosen direction for a Prix d’ Amérique now spread
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