ENGLISH TEXTS
Longchamp,” renamed ParisLongchamp, and inaugurated on April 8, 2018. Architect Dominique Perrault gave the racecourse a whole new look by deconstructing all the stands and creating a single, more compact and functional one. The dynamic architecture evokes a galloping horse, with overlapping terraces pointing toward the finish line. The transparent“ shelf” concept offers a panoramic view of the stables and track. The New Longchamp revives the charm of garden parties of old, nestled in nature, while offering modern comfort and functionality. The City of Light welcomes a new landmark where golden surfaces reflect the sunlight, reminiscent of autumn leaves— the season that hosts the prestigious Qatar Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe.
Auteuil, for the glory of jumps In 1873, Paris granted a concession to the newly formed Société des Courses d’ Obstacles to create a prestigious racecourse dedicated to jump racing. Architect Walter Destailleur built the grandstand in record time, barely nine months after the city’ s approval, the new temple of jumps hosted its first race meeting. The racecourse quickly won over Parisians, who came to enjoy a relaxed, popular atmosphere away from the bustle of downtown. Civil engineer Adolphe Alphand created pathways to stroll within the racecourse, among
three lawns, which were later modernized by landscape architect Michel Péna in 2013. In 1924, the legendary Grand Steeplechase de Paris was born, and the racecourse also hosted several equestrian events during the Olympic Games that same year. Auteuil was the first racecourse to introduce electronic betting in 1966, displaying real-time odds on 45 television screens. At the end of the 1970s, construction of the Paris ring road forced the relocation of the stables, and the stands were completely renovated. A true icon of Auteuil, Al Capone II recorded 26 wins and 32 placings in 64 starts, including a record seven victories in the Prix La Haye Jousselin. His statue, located in the paddock, was inaugurated in 2000.
From NH to trotting, just one stride away The sound of hooves echoed in Vincennes as early as 1863— but not those of trotters. The inauguration gathered 100,000 spectators who came to witness three NH races. Trotting officially took over the site in 1879, after major work to erase the scars of war on grounds that had served as a shooting range and military training field. The Parisian venue continued to host both disciplines until 1934, when flat racing was moved to Saint-Cloud. In 1919, Émile Riotteay and his team decided to create a prestigious, world-class race: the first Prix d’ Amérique was held the following year, named to honor the American allies for their help during the Great War. The event grew rapidly, with over 3,000 starters in the 1950s. In 1952, René Ballière launched nighttime meetings, building a smaller, flat, and illuminated track suitable for night races. Modern Vincennes was born in 1983 with new stands and a large hall, followed a decade later by a new banked track designed for greater speed.
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By Emmanuel Rivron
SEASIDE RACECOURSES
Sea, Horse and Sun! With 20,000 kilometers of coastline, France boasts the second largest maritime territory in the world- an ideal setting not just for tanning, surfing, or chilling, but also for horse racing. Thanks to a wide variety of racecourses, the French horseracing landscape even extends to some stretches of its beautiful shoreline, giving rise to ephemeral and remarkable“ seaside racecourses.” Four such unique venues still thrive today: Plestin-les- Grèves( May), Plouescat( August 3 & 4), Ploubalay( July 27) in Brittany, and Jullou-
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