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Apologies and welcome, "soup mongers" PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 05 July 2010 13:42

Le Frog could not quite believe what he read in the public address published last week by Spanish owner Anthony Forde following his failed attempt to see his French 1,000 Guineas winner Liliside finally placed 5th rather than 6th placing to which she was demoted. Forde did not ask for her laurels back. He simply wanted the France Galop stewards to agree that the filly should have been placed 5th rather than 6th for interfering only once in the final stretch, not twice as originally stated at Longchamp. A video proved that he was right to do so (check it on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1geeX_BZBA).

Everybody knows that the Appeal Commission of France Galop is a joke and that these guys never ever change whatever their fellow members of "The Club" have decided. "Right or wrong, my party", period.

However this time, one of the owners summoned at the appeal commission had added insult to injury by actually saying aloud to Forde’s party: "This is a game for aristocrats, it is not made for soup mongers".

Well if that isn't sheer class prejudice, what is? Even though the person in question is not actually a France Galop steward, he’s bred to become one of them. And by the way, if you only keep the horses owned by aristocrats in the French 1,000, only one belongs to a titled European. She finished 7th. Not exactly the champion’s party, is it?

This incident should not be blown out of proportions. Yet it should not be allowed to pass unremarked. Such ludicrous comments made by horseracing’s so-called "finest peers" remind me of J. B. Morton’s Oswald Thake – and this is not a compliment.

If only it had been said to a fellow Frenchman, able to share such a strange sense of humour, Le Frog wouldn’t mind that much. But to someone who spends money on our nation’s sport, promotes our races and pays our lads’ wages, well, a complete apology is the least the whole episode deserves.

It is therefore with a great sense of shame that Le Frog apologizes on behalf of this loon to every foreign participant to our races, whether they are "soup mongers" or Highnesses, for both are worth the same on and under the turf.

 
The PMU briefing PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 19 April 2010 03:03

Scoop_043867_006The PMU will no longer enjoy a monopoly on betting from June onwards as the online betting market opens up in France. On April 13th, the French historic operator held the PMU annual press conference and exposed his views at the dawn of a new era for French punters, French racing and possibly its economic balance.

Click here to download the English version of the PMU latest information package , featuring an interview of Philippe Germond, the company's new boss, appointed last year.

 
French online gambling market definitely opened PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 07 April 2010 09:09

The French Assembly has finally agreed on the opening of the French online gambling market on Tuesday. The vote had been postponed last week following a tactical move from the Socialists ranks that was made possible by the right wing absenteeism.

gaetan-gorce-4Anyway the hemicycle was full on Tuesday and 299 of the 522 present deputies agreed the bill, which was passed with flying colours.

The Socialist group fought against the bill until the last minute and some right wing “cold feet” were also against it. Socialist Gaetan Gorce (Deputy and Mayor in the Nievre, Center-East of France, where many AQPS jumpers are bred) was the most adamant of all. “The trouble is that the regulating authority will not be able to really check the applicants’ whereabouts, even when they intruded our country illegally for months, and will not hold any power by the time the market opens. In other words, what was conceived to protect the citizens will be turned into a licence to steal,” he said to the Assembly.

The Online Gaming Regulation Authority (ARJEL) will now be gathered to deliver the gambling licences to operators by June, that is on time for the beginning of the World Cup. Experts predicted that about 50 websites would receive the agreement to begin with.

 
French Tote spreads its chips PDF Print E-mail
Friday, 26 March 2010 07:58

Scoop_040339_038Friday, March 26th 2010. In a new and decisive move to get fully geared when the French online betting market opens in June, the PMU, France monopolistic betting operator since 1931, has signed a partnership with poker games operator PartyGaming, it was announced this morning. “The agreement will become effective once the two parties are granted a licence to operate in France by the regulatory bodies (the yet to be created ARJEL). ”

The Partygaming poker software will be used by the PMU in its betting website along with the sports betting offer, which will be monitored by another partner of the French company, Irish bookie Paddy Power. Yet the PMU will keep control of its database and its marketing strategy.

Read more on www.gamingintelligence.com

 
French Classic entries announced PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 24 February 2010 18:41

The entries for 2010’s French classics were announced on Wednesday with 228 horses entered for the Jockey Club, 139 colts in the French 2000 Guineas, 135 fillies in the French 1000 Guineas and 187 in the Prix de Diane. The Coolmore stallions Montjeu (25), Danehill Dancer (24), Galileo(20) and Sadler’s Wells (15) are the most represented amongst the entries. Cape Cross is the “non Coolmore” stallion with the highest number of total entries, 11, while Sinndar is the highest ranking French stallion in the list with 10 progeny in total.

English based trainers such as Barry Hills, Saeed Bin Suroor, John Dunlop, Henry Cecil and Sir Michael Stoute all figure amongst the entries, whilst the Irish are represented notably by Aidan O’Brien, Dermot Weld and Jim Bolger among others. The up and coming star of Ballydoyle, St Nicholas Abbey features among the entries for the Prix du Jockey Club alongside Jan Vermeer, winner of the Criterium de Saint Cloud.

Not to be outdone, the French also have some high class entries to look forward to with all the major trainers well represented. The younger brother of Goldikova, Ocean Seven also figures amongst the entries for the Prix du Jockey Club.

See individual articles for entries in full by race

 
Chantilly under construction PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 11 February 2010 09:30

In order to fabricate the all weather track due to be installed at Chantilly, the racecourse will close its doors to the public after the meeting on July 16th. Consequently the 11 meetings due to take place at Chantilly from that date onwards will be divided between Deauville (2), Maisons-Laffitte (3), Saint-Cloud (3), Compiègne (2) and Fontainebleau (1).

 
Increase in Group 1 prize money PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 11 February 2010 09:28

Six Group 1 races (the Poules d'Essai des Poulains and Pouliches, Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, Vermeille, Opéra and Rothschild) will all have their prize money raised by €50,000 this year. This money, which comes from the engagement fees paid by owners to enter their horses in these races, has in fact risen by €200,000 over the last three years.

 
Christophe Lemaire nominated for Lester PDF Print E-mail
Tuesday, 26 January 2010 20:22

Christophe Lemaire features in a group of four jockeys selected in the category “International Jockey of the Year” by the PJA (Professional Jockeys Association). The 20th anniversary of the Lesters will take place on the 28th February in London when the French jockey will have a tough job to beat out recently retired Mick Kinane along with Davy Russell and Ruby Walsh. He can however be proud of the fact that he is the only French jockey to be nominated and hope that it’s a good sign of things to come this year as he becomes stable jockey to the Aga Khan. Click here to visit PJA website.

 
2009 NH Statistics - Top 10 Owners PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 31 December 2009 17:17

Horses

Runners

Winners

Places

Total Gains

Mme P Papot

57

266

66

112

2.315.740

JP Sénéchal

87

489

38

175

1.536.000

Ecurie des Dunes

86

323

57

141

1.397.335

Magalen Bryant

87

354

40

148

1.281.054

Pegasus Farms Ltd

22

69

15

34

1.127.869

ML Bloodstock Ltd

26

111

13

57

925.860

Haras Saint Voir

44

201

40

81

847.298

Guy Cherel

46

224

28

91

822.961

Joseph Hayoz

38

275

7

100

773.876

Enrst Iten

4

10

2

3

654.100

 
2009 NH Statistics - Top 10 Trainers PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 31 December 2009 17:15

Horses

Runners

Winners

Places

Total Gains

G. Macaire

215

813

229

340

4.332.505

G. Cherel

96

467

66

215

3.504.240

J. Ortet

137

584

90

235

2.723.570

M. Rolland

87

388

44

150

2.493.645

FM. Cottin

170

888

55

248

2.362.720

JP. Gallorini

79

326

36

129

2.250.650

J. B. de Balanda

80

303

33

122

1.951.675

Y. Fouin

92

396

40

174

1.914.857

R. Collet

80

530

26

192

1.824.500

A. Chaillé-Chaillé

119

408

61

189

1.747.440

 
2009 NH Statistics - Top 10 Jockeys PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 31 December 2009 17:14

Horses

Runners

Winners

Places

Total Gains

D. Cottin

279

507

87

198

2.972.575

D. Berra

195

337

74

144

2.554.270

C. Gombeau

128

294

57

137

2.939.445

J. Plouganou

162

263

44

109

803.885

D. Lesot

95

217

42

93

733.380

B. Lestrade

122

196

42

77

671.340

C. Pieux

148

273

39

111

2.945.360

J. Ricou

146

250

39

104

2.068.140

B. Gicquel

105

179

33

72

807.100

A. Blais

70

149

31

64

494.240

 
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