More than a decade ago when I first went to Longchamp for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, it cost just €8 admission. France Galop had a general price tariff structure and Arc day was the most expensive day of the year in French racing (doubtless cashing in on foreign visitors).
In recent years, France Galop have had to reassess their tariffs as revenues from the PMU on horseracing have started to decline because young people do not shovel a few Euros on the ponies at the local tabac on the way to work like their parents and grandparents before them.
Last year Arc day at Chantilly would have cost €30 and several of the other premium days in the calendar such as the Prix du Jockey Club and the Prix de Diane now cost more than the standard daily admission.
So it seems economic reality is starting to replace socialist dogma in the running of French racing.
They have been doing a lot more in the marketing department at France Galop in recent years to try and make the product appeal more to the paying public; however, this appears to have come off the rails with the new Longchamp.
Firstly they have renamed it “Paris Longchamp”, possibly because they think some people do not know the location of Longchamp on the Bois de Boulogne. Also possibly because it was one of the centrepieces of their successful Olympics 2024 bid (the intended location for all the equestrian events).
Therefore, it beggars belief that with the course due to welcome a return to racing in 2018, the official website (according to the links on the France Galop website) http://www.parislongchamp.com does not exist in any serviceable form.
Before booking a Eurostar for the Poule d’Essai des Poulains/Pouliches card on 13th May, it would be nice to be able to check out whether both races are on one card as they used to be or whether they have split them across the weekend like they did last year at Deauville, so I need to travel on the 12th.
Does anybody know where reliable French horseracing information can be found given that the people running it seem to be incapable of providing information (in any language) less than six months in advance?
In recent years, France Galop have had to reassess their tariffs as revenues from the PMU on horseracing have started to decline because young people do not shovel a few Euros on the ponies at the local tabac on the way to work like their parents and grandparents before them.
Last year Arc day at Chantilly would have cost €30 and several of the other premium days in the calendar such as the Prix du Jockey Club and the Prix de Diane now cost more than the standard daily admission.
So it seems economic reality is starting to replace socialist dogma in the running of French racing.
They have been doing a lot more in the marketing department at France Galop in recent years to try and make the product appeal more to the paying public; however, this appears to have come off the rails with the new Longchamp.
Firstly they have renamed it “Paris Longchamp”, possibly because they think some people do not know the location of Longchamp on the Bois de Boulogne. Also possibly because it was one of the centrepieces of their successful Olympics 2024 bid (the intended location for all the equestrian events).
Therefore, it beggars belief that with the course due to welcome a return to racing in 2018, the official website (according to the links on the France Galop website) http://www.parislongchamp.com does not exist in any serviceable form.
Before booking a Eurostar for the Poule d’Essai des Poulains/Pouliches card on 13th May, it would be nice to be able to check out whether both races are on one card as they used to be or whether they have split them across the weekend like they did last year at Deauville, so I need to travel on the 12th.
Does anybody know where reliable French horseracing information can be found given that the people running it seem to be incapable of providing information (in any language) less than six months in advance?
) of a return business-class trip to Scotland in May, with 4-days at a Hilton included. Better get myself in some sort of shape! Which brings me to the question, being English, do I need a bloody visa nowadays to visit the land of one of my grandpa's? 
Am holidaying in Scotland in July - spending a week walking the west Highland way
"Avon calling!" What!! 