ENGLISH TEXTS certs, or even new offerings like gourmet food halls or pop-up shops, SETF is opening the doors to new possibilities under a single guiding idea:“ Keeping racecourses alive all year.”“ Our facilities are well suited for festivals and concerts. We’ re in talks with many players from the cultural and music industries,” Zoghbi says. Le Trot is multiplying partnerships— and it’ s working:“ La Folie Douce( cabaret, shows, DJ sets) drew over 20,000 people, and the Tropical Nights drew over 10,000. We currently host about ten such evenings per year, and our goal is to double that by 2026.”
“ Showcases to Attract New Bettors” These events are bringing in a new audience. While transaction volume reflects this, betting turnover has yet to follow suit. Attracting this audience is a key mission for PMU.“ Racecourses must become showcases for attracting new bettors,” argues Pierre Préaud. Like France Galop with its JeuXdi and major festival events, Le Trot is putting event planning at the heart of its strategy. This is a major part of ongoing negotiations with the City of Paris for renewing the 30-year lease of Vincennes Racecourse. Among the key issues: increasing capacity: currently, the“ temple of trotting” is capped at 24,000 spectators within the track’ s infield— a limit that places Vincennes somewhere be- tween a concert arena and a football stadium.“ That’ s not bad,” says Zoghbi,“ but we can’ t host acts like U2 or Madonna anymore. Long-term, our goal is to increase capacity to attract stars like we did in the 1980s and’ 90s.” In the meantime, talks are underway for events starting in 2026.“ We’ re envisioning full-day experiences, with entertainment and guest appearances, leading up to a headline artist to close the show.” One can reasonably assume that offering more than just racing is helping boost racecourse attendance, which hit 2.4 million entries in 2024— up 16 %.“ We’ re right in the middle of the peak racing season,” says Pierre Préaud.“ No matter where you’ re vacationing in France, there’ s a racecourse nearby. That network is more of an asset than a burden. That’ s why, despite real estate pressure, we must preserve our racecourses. The lower you go in the racing tiers, the lower the costs— thanks to passionate volunteers. Some streamlining is necessary, yes, but shutting down a racecourse would just mean transferring its races elsewhere— which would cost twice as much at major venues.”
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RACING’ S GUARDIAN ANGELS
� PAGE 74
By Céline Gualde
THE GUARDIAN ANGELS OF THE RACETRACKS, FOCUS ON THE PIN RACETRACK
Six thousand volunteers work tirelessly to keep France’ s 235 racetracks running. Horse racing could not survive without the positive energy these enthusiasts bring. Around forty people join forces to keep the Bergerie racetrack alive, just next to the legendary Haras National du Pin.
Walkie-talkie in hand, Denis Legeard is everywhere, the Swiss army knife of the Pin racing society. At sixty-three, retirement is just around the corner for this discreet and energetic man, well known among Normandy breeders for having identified their foals for many years. In just a few weeks, Denis will leave his position as an Haras technician, but he’ ll never turn his back on his racetrack – this bucolic haven of about thirty hectares located just a few kilometers from the stud farm where he spent his career. Denis Legeard has volunteered with the Société des Courses du Pin for a quarter
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