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Horse racing - France Longchamp
France - Longchamp -
Racing in France seems to be about the great October meet at Longchamp when the full race card is made up of classic races including the most famous of all the Prix de la Arc de Triomphe.
Longchamp is situated in the Bois de Boulogne there are three courses and a sprint track. In the distance you can clearly see the Eiffel tower.
The atmosphere at Longchamp is not quite the same as the great English races mainly due to the fact that there are no bookmakers to congregate around. Another strange factor of Longchamp is the 2 winning post check your race card the further post is marked as 2e Poteau. Strangely enough the course commentary is in French (why they can't speak English I'll never know.) If you wish to place a bet on course you need to queue for the Pari Mutuel and this would test the patience of a saint. Far better if you are at the course to use your mobile and contact your favourite bookie most will accept Mobile betting if you set up an account before hand. (accounts made with totesport, willhill, coral & ladbrokes, can be used for mobile betting. Click on any of there links on this site and you'll be set up.)
St Leger the French way
We have already stated that France is not just about the Arc and Longchamp puts on superb racing in the Spring, Early Summer and Autumn The Grand Prix de Paris is the French St Leger, Prix Lupin which is an important English Derby Trial.
Another top French course is Chantilly with it's resident Chateau for horses, Les Grands Ecuries it is the home of the prix du jockey club and HH the Aga Khan has owned no fewer than five winners. Chantilly stages the French equivalent of the english oaks.
Normandy boasts the beautiful course of Deauville which now as an All Weather Track