Jockey Club honors Romanet

Louis Romanet, director general of France-Galop, the ruling body of French racing, was awarded the Jockey Club Medal for his exceptional contributions to the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry on Monday. The presentation was made by the Jockey Club's president, Alan Marzelli, at the annual meeting in Paris of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, which Romanet chairs.

Romanet is the latest in a long line of Romanets involved in French racing. His grandfather Rene and great uncle Maurice both served as secretaries general of the Societe d'Encouragement (French Jockey Club), as did his father, Jean Romanet, who was awarded the Jockey Club Medal in 1985. Among Louis Romanet's many achievements was to oversee the development of the Societe d'Encouragement into the more comprehensive France-Galop. After 40 years of service to international racing, Louis Romanet will retire from his France-Galop post at the end of the year, but remain as chairman of the IFHA until the conclusion of his fifth three-year term in October 2009.