ENGLISH TEXTS
ville-les-Pins( May) in Normandy. All host legs of the Trophée des Plages( Beaches Trophy) for trotters. For a day or a weekend, and just hours before the tide reclaims its space, horses and riders take to the sands with breathtaking sea views, delighting spectators whether they’ re seasoned bettors or curious newcomers. Thanks to the dedication of passionate, efficient volunteer teams, the experience is as unique as the landscape. The perfect place, in short, to snap seaside photos, with your feet in the water, or almost.
JEAN-CLAUDE QUÉGUINER“ WE RENT THE BEACH” A local and president of the racing society since 2021, 68-year-old Jean-Claude Quéguiner explains how his team transforms a sandy bay into a fully functioning racecourse.
Galorama. Since when have horses been racing at Plouescat?
Jean-Claude Quéguiner. The first horse races were held here in 1882. The Bay of Kernic is a regional landmark and was even used as an airfield for many years before World War II.
G. How do you prepare for a race day on this sandy bay?
J-C. Q. First, the bay must be fully exposed for at least five days. So, the race dates are determined by the tide schedule. We rent the beach from the maritime domain for that period. The first two days are for setting up the infrastructure, then we hold our two race meetings— including one mixed( harness and mounted)— and on the last day, we take everything down. It’ s a real racecourse, with railings all around the track.
G. How many people are involved in preparing this racecourse?
J-C. Q. Around 80 volunteers help out. Other local associations also pitch in— for instance, the football club runs the refreshment stand. It’ s the summer event in Plouescat. Under the Natura 2000 framework, there are environmental requirements to meet, but everything goes smoothly. We“ own” the beach for that brief week and, of course, we must return it as clean as when we arrived. We place bins all over the site. There’ s rarely much to pick up— spectators are very respectful.
G. Who comes to watch the races at Plouescat?
J-C. Q. Locals, of course, but above all, lots of tourists. When the public comes to us, it feels like they’ re going to the ends of the Earth. So, it’ s our duty to go above and beyond to welcome and thank them. Last year, we broke our betting record and our attendance record, with 4,200 paid entries over the two days. We have a large marquee where we offer meals. On the second race day, we serve an all-youcan-eat seafood and aperitif menu for € 50, which draws 200 or more guests. The atmosphere is always fantastic.
PLESTIN-LES-GRÈVES
and its Saint-Efflam beach have been transforming into a racecourse once a year since 1828- just long enough for a single tide. Eight straight-line races are held: three flat and five trotting events, including the € 18,000 Trophée des Plages race, all in front of 3,500 spectators and with the help of 100 volunteers. The first race was initiated by the Marquis de Kergariou, a Paris-based breeder who organized trial runs on the shore to let local farmers test their Postier Breton and Trait Breton horses.
Jullouvilles-les-pins has hosted races since 1886, originally run among the dunes, as the first houses weren’ t built until 1906. The date depends on the tidal coefficient- it must be at least 90, with low tide around 4:30 p. m. to make the most of the Estran, the vast sandy stretch revealed at low tide. The races are exclusively trotting events, including a leg of the Trophée des Plages, and the beach regularly serves as a training ground for top names like Idéal du Gazeau, Général du Pommeau, and Fakir du Loureau.
Ploubalay has been hosting trotting races on its beach since
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