INTRODUCTION

France Galop is the non-profit making organisation responsible for flat and jump racing in France: out of 258 racecourses, it manages directly the premier tracks and training facilities at Chantilly, Deauville and Maisons Laffitte as well as managing the racing at Longchamp, Saint- Cloud and jumping at Enghien, all of which are within easy reach of Paris.

Owners receive their own card from France Galop which entitles them to free access to all racecourses in France where there are reserved areas including private dining facilities available to owners who may also invite guests free. In addition, VAT is charged at the agricultural rate of 5.5%, there are no race entry fees, transportation of horses to the racecourse is heavily subsidised and English is spoken widely!

Stable visits to the fabulous training centres are actively encouraged and easily arranged. There are direct flights to Deauville from London City or fast ferries from Portsmouth, and there is the Eurostar as well as regular flights to Paris.

Kathy's Rocket and her Byron filly foal born April 11
enjoying the sunshine at Haras de Quesnay

RACING & BREEDING STATISTICS

Prize money has increased by 53% over the last 10 years and breeders’ premiums by 22% from 2003 to 2007.

Orpen filly purchased Arqana yearling sale October 2010

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZE-MONEY AND PREMIUMS

*Condition Races indicated exclude Listed Races, which are condition races.
Source: France Galop

OWNERS’ PREMIUMS

Owners’ premiums for assimilated and French-bred horses are paid as a percentage of the allocated prize money and in addition to the actual prize money as follows:-

BREEDERS’ PREMIUMS

In France

• 14% in open races where owners’ premiums apply
• 19% in races restricted to French breds
• 21% in races restricted to AQPS

Outside France

• 10% only applicable to owners + Group 1 runners up

In addition to all of this, a super breeders’ premium of 50% uplift in breeders’ premium (i.e. 21% instead of 14% in open races) is applicable to the progeny of mares of any age that have produced black type performers, or black type mares of 12 years or younger and have both been covered by stallions within the first five years at stud in France.

HOW TO QUALIFY AS AN ASSIMILATED OR FRENCH-BRED HORSE

Either the foal is born in France (French-bred) and remains there, except for a period to allow the mare to be covered outside France, until 1st June of its yearling year, or the foal is born abroad (Assimilated) when the mare can have left France after 1st November of the year preceding foaling but both are back in France before 1st September of the year of the foal’s birth. The horse must then remain in France until at least 1st June of the following year except for temporary exportation period not exceeding 1 month.

DISTANCES & WEIGHTS

COSTS

Training fees and boarding costs are the euro equivalent to those in the UK. Cost recovery is the prize money divided by training expenses at approximately 55% (UK c. 23% and falling).

If you would like to know more about racing and breeding in France and would like to join our all-costs-inclusive racing and breeding ventures over there, please get in touch.

A BIENTOT