France: Multiple venues fill in while Longchamp closed
A two-year redevelopment of Longchamp Racecourse in Paris has led to significant changes to the venues of some major stakes on the French racing schedule in 2016.
France-Galop, the governing body of French racing, recently published the racing calendar for 2016, listing the venues and dates for major races this year. With Longchamp under reconstruction and not scheduled to reopen until September 2017, Paris-area tracks, such as Chantilly and Saint-Cloud, and Deauville, on the northwest coast, have taken greater roles this year.
Two Group 1 races historically run at Longchamp will be held at Saint-Cloud, on the western side of Paris – the Prix Ganay for older horses on May 1, and the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris for 3-year-old colts and fillies on July 14.
Deauville, which hosts a popular summer meeting from late July through August, will be the venue for a major weekend of Group 1 action in mid-May of races typically held at Longchamp. The French 1000 and 2000 Guineas will be held on May 15, a day before the Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary. The Prix Saint-Alary is a key prep for the French Oaks at Chantilly on June 19.
Chantilly, north of Paris, has gained a spring race previously run at Longchamp, and will be the key venue for autumn races that are typically showcase events at Longchamp.
On May 24, older horses will race at Chantilly in the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan.
On Sept. 11, the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and Prix Vermeille will be run at Chantilly on a program of prep races for major stakes in early October. On Oct. 1-2, Chantilly will host the Arc weekend of major stakes, with the focus the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 2. The Arc de Triomphe is Europe’s most prestigious flat race.
Longchamp held its final day of racing last October before the start of a 23-month redevelopment program. Blueprints unveiled last fall call for a smaller grandstand that emphasizes sightlines of the expansive racecourse and the picturesque walking ring behind the stands.