2024-11-22 14:19:00
As part of the “Plaisirs Sunday” (see here) until February 23, 2025 at the Paris-Vincennes racecourse, guided tours of the stables are offered. The opportunity to (re)discover the world of trotting races.
The second race of the day out of ten in the meeting has just ended. The winner, Versace Face, completed the 2,100 meters in 2’30 minutes, an average speed of over 50 km/h.
The horses do not linger on the cinder track of thehippodrome (made of clinker, a material which gives it this black color and this nickname). After the effort, they quickly go to take a lukewarm shower. “Our anxiety is that they will catch a cold” says Sandrine, responsible for the prize giving but also for visiting the stables.
The shower with lemon juice
The horse is washed with Paic Citron, “it degreases the best”. A heat knife is used to wring it out and speed up drying. After this step we place a blanket on his back. Then it’s time to recover in what we call the relaxation circle. “The horse will walk for around 30 minutes so that the heart rate drops properly or a muscle is not paralyzed after exercise” explains the specialist. During the shower and the recovery phase, a veterinary assistant ensures that there are no manipulations which could distort the anti-doping control which takes place immediately afterwards.
You don’t cheat with doping control
This step is imperative. The winner of each race is systematically controlled. For the quinté test, these are the first five. Horses can also be controlled by drawing lots. The veterinary service has boxes that are a little larger and a little better mulched (more provided with straw). In addition to a blood test, the whole point is to make the horse urinate, “nothing could be simpler, we whistle” points out Sandrine, “and it works relatively well”. Everything is then recorded in the identification booklet, the horse’s identity card, which also contains its vaccinations which of course must be up to date.
“Very sociable”, often following a life in a horse racing club or equestrian center after his sporting career, the trotter also appreciates having “a cuddly toy” with him in his box. “Not long ago it was a rabbit, unfortunately too many were crushed, today the fashion is more for the goat” says the woman who was already riding a horse before she could walk.
A box is allocated to you, a seal guarantees it
Spread over 40 hectares, the Paris-Vincennes racecourse has 150 boxes. “When you are selected for the race, you have a box allocated to you” declares Sandrine specifying that “the name that is noted is always that of the trainer, never that of the owner, even less that of the horse in order to avoid malicious acts”. She also explains that “when the trainer and the horse arrive, a seal guarantees that the box is mulched healthily. Everything is then his responsibility.”
To be able to compete in Vincennes or elsewhere, horses must pass a qualification, “complete 2,000 meters in a time defined according to their age”. If they meet this requirement, they can begin their racing career. With the Holy Grail for any owner, winning the Prix d’Amérique which takes place every year on the last Sunday in January.
In general, a horse can compete from 2 to 11 years old. A conscientious owner does not make him do more than twenty races per year. In competition trotters must of course not gallop at the risk of disqualification, “they are entitled to a maximum of 15 strides between arrival and departure”.
Be careful of galloping and whipping
During the race, the race marshals also pay close attention to whipping. Abusive use can also result in a sanction, sometimes dismissal. “Today we are about equine welfare. We pay very close attention to all of this. On a mounted trotting race, the tip of the whip is foam. As for the drivers on the sulky, they often tap the stretcher to stimulate the horse. Sometimes we also remove the foam plugs he has in his ears” argues the one who works on behalf of GTHP (Parisian racecourse technical group).
Another particularity, the females, “sharper” can prove to be superior to the males in the race. Likewise, like humans, some horses are more right-handed while others are left-handed. This also depends on their ability to turn better on a left-handed racecourse (when the direction of the turns is left) or right.
On the hardware side, le sulkythis light two-wheeled cart, weighs approximately 15 kilos for an average cost of 5,000 euros. At the end of each race, it is systematically cleaned in a specific space. Here again Paic Citron is used. “If this brand resists, it’s partly thanks to us,” laughs Sandrine.
Two intensive jobs per week
In terms of training, the horses leave their stalls daily, just to keep their morale up and maintain their muscles. They carry out on average two intensive jobs per week. This corresponds to a maximum of 25 minutes of effort. The main training center, the Grosbois domain, is located in the commune of Boissy-Saint-Léger in Val-de-Marne.
The trotting and galloping sector employs 40,000 direct and indirect jobs in France. Regarding the number of racecourses, “there are as many as there are days in the year” concludes Sandrine. From a simple agricultural field transformed once a year into an ephemeral racecourse (like in Valognes in La Manche every Ascension Thursday) to the temple of trotting like in Vincennes, or even at Longchamp for galloping. A universe, a passion.
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How do training facilities like Grosbois contribute to the success of trotting teams and horses?
Ed into a racecourse, there are about 365 racecourses across France catering to various racing disciplines, including trotting and galloping.
In the world of trotting, meticulous care and preparation are vital for both horses and drivers to ensure a successful competition. The journey starts with the horse’s qualification, where it must complete a specific distance within a set time based on its age. This regulation ensures that only fit and capable horses participate in races.
Moreover, the rules are strict regarding horse behavior during races. Trotters must maintain their gait and avoid galloping; otherwise, they risk disqualification. The marshals enforce these rules rigorously while also monitoring the use of whips to uphold equine welfare standards. Proper training techniques are employed to motivate the horses without resorting to harsh methods.
A unique aspect of the trotting scene is the difference in performance between male and female horses. It’s noted that females may outperform males in races, adding another layer of strategy to racing team compositions. The training environment is also carefully managed, with facilities like the Grosbois domain providing comprehensive support to trainers and their horses.
Competitions culminate in prestigious events like the Prix d’Amérique, which attracts significant attention and serves as a monumental achievement for owners and trainers alike. Each race offers not just a test of speed and skill, but also a celebration of the bond between horses and their handlers. As the trotting community continues to thrive, it contributes substantially to the economy and culture of horse racing in France.
