ENGLISH TEXTS
very friendly.” Quirky, because just five minutes from the village, beyond the ticket booth, sits“ a stage with a round dancefloor” that this Breton native“ dreams of using for festive events.” On track, during the unmissable August 15 th meeting— when the 1,500-seat grandstand and panoramic restaurant are packed— horses like Fakir Mérité still light up the record books of the Grand Prix Dynavena Maisagri, a Group 3 qualifier for the major races of the southwest.
Cassoulet remains the top local specialty, alongside paella in all forms. The restaurant is now run by Demoulin Traiteur, known for its excellent reputation.
STAGE 10 Castéra-Verduzan In the heart of the Gers, near Auch, the Baron racecourse is considered one of the most beautiful in Occitanie— and one of the oldest, with its racing society founded in 1884. Trotting, flat racing, hurdles, steeplechase, and cross-country: Baron stands out for its versatility, with three right-handed tracks ranging from 1,200 to 1,400 meters, each dedicated to a specific discipline. A rustic venue just as we like them.“ A very shaded, flower-filled racecourse, nestled among cornfields and near vineyards. It’ s a lovely place from July to November during our nine meetings,” says president Joël Barro. Facilities include a small 400-seat grandstand, a control tow- er, parade ring, refreshment bar, and— new in 2025—“ a lounge bar for stable professionals.” Already well-known, the grand cross-country race is set to grow, increasing from 4,300 to 4,900 meters with“ 31 obstacles” in total. The exact date is still being finalized— probably“ late October.”
Farm-fresh duck and goose, with a new caterer in the track’ s small restaurant.
STAGE 11 Trie-sur-Baïse Sardine grills, clay-pigeon shooting, pétanque and skittle tournaments, a ball, and horse racing. At Triesur-Baïse, the annual village fair always ends at the Soulancerre racecourse. This finale draws“ around 2,000 people,” says Robert Prat, secretary of the racing society and owner of the venue. Pre-war flat and jump racing have given way to trotting, and the grass track— 1,025 meters with a 300-meter home stretch— has switched from right-handed to left-handed. You no longer hear the traditional Pyrenean hunting horns, but Soulancerre remains a gem with its“ 200- to 300-yearold oak trees” and“ natural grandstands” overlooking the sunken track. The annual event, held the Tuesday after the first Sunday in August, is a magnet for horses— so many that races are“ split into divisions”— and for tourists, spa-goers, and racing fans from the whole re- gion. It’ s one of the few private racecourses in France. The Prat family has owned it since the 1930s. Robert’ s grandfather, Léopold Prat, long made his black-andwhite-spotted silks shine here.
Grilled lamb barbecue.
STAGE 12 Lannemezan- Luchon A breathtaking view of the Pic du Midi and the Pyrenean range in the background, 600 meters above sea level, with tall trees casting shade and light. In March, Lannemezan merged with Luchon, but the setting remains just as idyllic.“ And let’ s not forget the little Gers River running alongside the racecourse, which also borders hole no. 9 of the adjacent golf course,” notes president Jean-Emmanuel Ramis. Formerly open to flat racing, the 1,312-meter grass track now hosts only trotting. It was“ completely redone in June” for the three upcoming meetings in late August and mid-September.“ It’ s a festive occasion— each time, we welcome 1,500 people free of charge.” The course is part of a broader leisure area: Demi-Lune Park, its lake( Payolle), and numerous kids’ activities. Over 60 years ago, the entire complex was built by patients from the neighboring psychiatric hospital, which still owns the racecourse.
200 meters away, grilled Black Bigorre pork with Tarbais beans at Le Pré
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