Horses win by a nose at the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, payout can be delayed
Calendar of horse races in France If you are interested in all of the race courses in Paris (hippodromes), at the choice of hippodrome on the, scroll to Paris and then click on “Go”.
This will bring up all the courses in Paris from today’s date forward.
The English calendar is not working as of today. Use the French version and I will translate:
Select a date and then follow the links on the right:
En savoir plus (to know more)
* the Auteuil race course
* the admission prices
* how to find the hippodrome (race course)
Dimanches au Galop (Sunday at the races)
A yearly event at the Paris racetracks is the “Dimanches au Galop” between the last Sunday in March and the eight Sundays during April and May. It gives the Parisians a chance to rediscover their hippodromes and enjoy a family day.
You can picnic inside the racing green or within the park. Guided tours – in English and French show you how to bet. Regularly scheduled tours take you behind the scenes of the race track.
There are plenty of activities for the children (carousel, games, seen the stables, etc.) You can watch the parade of horses, the jockeys being weighed — get an inside view of the racetrack.
Last season over 85,000 adults and close to 12,000 children participated at the events. It’s a great day for the friends and family.
Entrance, parking, shuttle buses, everything is free — except your bets! but you can win; I speak from experience!
The Longchamp racecourse Web site has a guide to the Longchamp (events, layout, how to get there – the shuttle service, public transport. Even though it is referring to l’Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barrière race, this information will be helpful for your Sunday “Dimanches au Galop”.
Hippodromes/Race courses in the Paris region
Auteuil
Longchamp
Chantilly
Deauville
Maisons-Laffitte
Saint-Cloud
Enghien
Longchamp Racecourse
One of my readers, Emma, sent this fantastic text of her experience this year:
“Ladies could get in free if they wore a hat. You can buy tickets on the door. They only have standard kiosks to bet at (no tic tac toe men), you have to queue for some time to bet each race so in the end we bet on all races in one go.
There are English betting companies there but you can only use them if you are a member (i.e. Ladbrokes or Tote). Most of the staff speak good English. There aren’t enough places to sit so for older members of the group it was tough going. The parking is cheap (about 2 Euros) and very well organised.
There is a little kiddie train that takes you from where you park to the entrance. From where you watch the races it’s quite a trek to get to the parade ring, but what does happen is that when the race is finished the horses have to walk past where the crowds are so you get to see them all again, and the winning horse gets accompanied by a woman riding side saddle and she is all dressed up.
The atmosphere is absolutely amazing, they play triumphant music at the start of the races and it is really fantastic, everyone is in a very good mood and I saw no signs of trouble from anyone, it was very family orientated. I will probably go again next year it was a fantastic experience“.
Visit the Longchamp Web site for up to the date information about other races, history, visiting Longchamp, a photo gallery, etc.
Brief history of l’Arc de Triomphe race
“…The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was first run at Longchamp racecourse on Sunday October 3rd 1920. The first horse across the line was Comrade, who picked up FF150,000; second was King’s Cross, winning FF18,000, and Pleurs was third, winning FF10,000.
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barrière offers prize-money of 2 million euros including 1,142,800 euros to the winner. The Arc weekend is Europe’s biggest two-day combined purse, with total prize money of 4.5 million euros on offer.
The Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe has been run 84 times since 1920. Sunday 1st October 2006 will herald the 85th running of what is generally considered to be the world’s greatest horserace…“–from the Longchamp website.
The following information is subject to change. Check the France Galop Web site for up-to-date information.
Free bus to and from Hippodrome Longchamp for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
HIPPODROME DE VINCENNES
2 route de la Ferme
Tel
+33 (0)1 49 77 17 17
Full price: 3 euros; reduced price (18-25 yrs and over-60s): 2.50 euros; free admission for under-18s
These prices do not apply during the Prix d’Amérique
HIPPODROME DE LONGCHAMP
Bois de Boulogne route des Tribunes
+33 (0)1 44 30 75 00
Weekdays: full price: 3 euros; reduced price (students and over-60s): 1.50 euros; free admission for under-18s
Sundays and holidays: full price: 4 euros; reduced price (students and over-60s): 2 euros; free admission for under-18s
These prices do not apply during the Grand Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Backstage visits at the racecourses every Sunday at 2.30, 3.30 and 4.30 p.m.
Tel +33 (0)821 213 213 or +33 (0)825 03 01 01 (groups)
LES DIMANCHES AU GALOP
Hippodrome de Longchamp
Tel +33 (0)821 213 213
held in April and May every year: open from 12 p.m.; events begin at 1.30 p.m.
Free admission and access to attractions
To find out about the horse races in Paris, go to the source. Readers ask similar questions every year:
“trying to find out which Horse Racing track is running during that time. I have found mixed information.“
The most up-to-date way to find out the horse races in Paris is through the France-Galop Web site. Click on the flag in the upper right-hand corner to reach the pages in English.
You will discover sections on Sunday activities (Dimanches), what to do with your family, about the six major race courses in and around Paris, the calendar, where to picnic, etc.
In addition, the France-Galop site covers the other racecourses in and around Paris and in France. Here is a list of some ideas: Auteuil, Chantilly, Deauville, Longchamp, Maisons-Laffitte, Saint-Cloud, and the regional racecourses in France
Read about the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in “Go to the horseraces in Paris“.
