France Redefines Its Racing Landscape: 24 Tracks to Cease Thoroughbred Racing

France Galop approved a profound restructuring to cut costs, though it introduced significant changes compared to the original project. Tarbes managed to save its racing activity, while several venues will be required to specialize exclusively in harness racing or steeplechase

PARIS, France (Special for Turf Diario).— French racing is facing a major transformation, with decisions that reflect the economic difficulties confronting the industry. France Galop approved a cost-reduction plan that includes the elimination of Thoroughbred racing at 24 racetracks across the country, though all of them will be permitted to continue hosting trotting events.

The resolution was adopted by the governing body’s board of directors following extensive negotiations that allowed for modifications to some of the most controversial points in the original proposal.

The president of France Galop, Guillaume de Saint-Seine, described those discussions as essential to reaching an agreement that would allow the reform to move forward.

The measure represents a significant reorganization of the French fixture list, particularly at regional racetracks where meeting schedules featuring flat, jump, and harness racing on the same grounds are common practice.

The stated goal is to reduce operational costs for organizing bodies as well as for owners, trainers, and other industry participants.

However, the initiative sparked strong resistance across various regions, where racetracks fulfill a sporting, economic, and social role that extends far beyond hosting race meetings.

One of the most notable changes from the initial draft was the preservation of Thoroughbred racing at Tarbes, a traditional venue in southwestern France that had originally been slated to lose the activity.

The prospect of its exclusion triggered an intense opposition campaign, which ultimately succeeded in reversing the decision.

There was also positive news for Amiens, another track originally scheduled to cease hosting Thoroughbred races, which no longer appears among those affected in the revised version.

Meanwhile, Senonnes, an important regional training center for both flat and jump horses, was removed from the roster of venues forced to specialize.

Under the initial proposal, it had been set to drop jump fixtures in order to concentrate exclusively on flat racing.

These modifications reflect the scope of the negotiations that preceded the final approval of the project.

A key mechanism of the reform will be the specialization of certain venues, which will no longer alternate between flat and jump racing.

According to the approved plan, Aix-les-Bains, Châteaubriant, Cholet, La Teste, Saint-Malo, and Toulouse will move exclusively to flat racing.

Strasbourg and Vittel will progressively join that group as implementation proceeds.

Conversely, Jarnac, Le Lion-d'Angers, Nancy, Nantes, and Orléans will concentrate their Thoroughbred activity on jump racing.

The case of Saint-Malo is particularly significant. The track in the Breton port city had initially been identified as losing all Thoroughbred activity, but it will ultimately retain flat racing while discontinuing jump events.

Specialization will reduce maintenance requirements for track surfaces and facilities dedicated to different disciplines, in addition to streamlining program organization.

Nevertheless, it will also force trainers and owners to alter established habits as they adapt to a new geographical distribution of fixtures.

A Worrying Reform

The decision by France Galop underscores the need to review an extensive racing infrastructure featuring numerous regional venues and operational costs that have grown increasingly difficult to sustain.

The governing body maintains that concentrating specific disciplines will allow resources to be deployed more efficiently.

Yet the cutbacks also raise serious questions regarding the future of the impacted tracks and the consequences for communities tied to the industry.

Having 24 venues cease hosting Thoroughbred racing serves as a stark indication of the magnitude of this adjustment, even as all of them retain trotting events.

The amendments made to spare Tarbes, Amiens, and Senonnes demonstrate that regional resistance had an impact, though it was not enough to halt a reform that will substantially reshape the landscape of French racing.

France Galop secured approval for its plan, but it now faces the challenge of implementing it without further weakening the regional presence of an activity that forms an integral part of the nation's sporting heritage.