The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the Prix du Président de la République or the Prix du Jockey Club are all household names. They constitute the culmination of minute organisation involving a plethora of skilled and dedicated staff – with FRANCE GALOP pulling all the strings!

SOME HISTORY

Around 1200: Horse racing begins in England.
1671: first official meeting at Newmarket.
1750: the Jockey Club, the Flat racing "authority", is founded.
1776: first racecourse opens on the Plaine des Sablons. Fontainebleau and Vincennes follow.
11 November 1833: drafting of the "manifeste", the birth certificate of the "Comité de la Société d'Encouragement pour l'amélioration des races de chevaux en France" (Body to enhance the breeding of horses in France).
15 May 1834: first race meeting at Chantilly.
1836: 1st prix du Jockey Club
1840: first success for a horse from a French stables in England (Beggarman, owned by the Duc d'Orléans, ridden by the Comte de Cambis in the Goodwood Cup).
April 1857: inauguration of Longchamp racecourse.
1865, invention of the “pari mutuel” (tote) by Joseph Oller. Victory of Gladiateur in the English Derby at Epsom.
1874, 1st Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris
1887: bookmakers outlawed.
* 2 June 1891: organic law making racing associations answerable to the Ministry of Agriculture.
* 1912: anti-doping measures introduced (first saliva samples taken)
* 1920: creation of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
* 1930: creation of the Pari Mutuel Urbain (finance law authorising associations to organise betting outside racetracks)
* 1954: creation of the Tiercé.
4 October 1983: new legal statue for the PMU which becomes an Economic Interest Grouping.

ORGANISATION

FRANCE GALOP, the governing body of French horse racing, was created on 3 May 1995 by the merger between three horseracing associations: the Société d'Encouragement et des Steeple-Chases de France, the Société de Sport de France and the Société Sportive d'Encouragement. Its role centres on promoting the improvement of the racehorse breed. By means of its role, France Galop helps to fund and coordinate a vibrant sector employing over 62,000 people (directly and indirectly), operating throughout the regions of France.

FRANCE GALOP is an association coming under the dual supervision of the Ministries of Agriculture and Finance, while the Ministry for the Interior oversees the regularity of betting operations. Under the authority of its chairman, Edouard de Rothschild, FRANCE GALOP’s members include representatives of regional racing authorities, representatives of various socio-professional categories and other horseracing experts. Under the chairman’s authority, the structure is equipped with a General Management role, entrusted since July 2008 to M. Hubert Monzat. Answering to the France Galop General Manager, four operational divisions ensure the smooth running of the horseracing body: the Race and Racecourse Division, the Finance and Organisation Division, the Marketing and Communication Division and the Human Resources Division.

FRANCE GALOP runs six racecourses under the authority of a racecourse director: Longchamp, Auteuil, Saint-Cloud, Chantilly, Maisons-Laffitte and Deauville. These last three sites are also training centres managed and maintained by France Galop so as to provide the professionals (trainers) with the spaces and tools required for the day-to-day training of racehorses. It also organises jumps races at Enghien racecourse. Through its activities, FRANCE GALOP performs several fundamental roles at national level:
 

• Encouraging breeding,
  
  
• Improving the breeds of racecourse,
  
  
• Determining prize money and premiums,
  
  
• Encouraging training,
  
  
• Ensuring correct procedures are followed in the taking of bets at the racecourses.

FRANCE GALOP has a vital role to play in the organisation of races in France and its activities are manifold:

• Drafting and applying the Rules of Racing,
  
  
• Issuing authorisations to run, train and ride,
  
  
• Drawing up and approving the race calendar,
  
  
• Managing six racecourses and three training centres.

Every year, FRANCE GALOP organises some of the most prestigious races in the world:

• Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp
  
  
• Prix de Diane at Chantilly
  
  
• Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly
  
  
• Gras Savoye Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil
  
  
• Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp

THE ORIGINS, ROLE AND STATUTES OF FRANCE GALOP

Committee
Chairman : M. Edouard de Rothschild
Vice-Chairmen: M. Charles-Henri de Moussac, Chairman of the Flat Racing Council and M. Jean d'Indy, Chairman of the Jumps Racing Council.

The committee is made up of 50 members: 25 from various socio-professional categories and 25 delegate members.

Board of Directors
FRANCE GALOP is overseen by a board of directors consisting of 12 committee members chosen by the committee to serve for a renewable period of 4 years.

Subcommittee
Members are designated by the committee to serve on the following subcommittees on 4 year mandates:

The Flat and Jumps Subcommittees prepare the calendar and schedules, as well as working towards the improvement of the breeds in their respective disciplines .
 
The jurisdictional subcommittee, chaired by Alain de Kermadec, drafts the Rules of Racing, nominates the stewards and the appeal authorities.

Members of the association
Owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys.
Chairmen of the Regional Federations (Chairmen of the Regional Councils)
Associate members, chosen according to their particular expertise
Membres d'Honneur or honorary members of the three former bodies at the time of the merger

• FRANCE GALOP organisational chart
• Organisational chart of sites
• Guide to the Authorities of France Galop

THE MAIN SOURCES OF FUNDING

FRANCE GALOP’s main source of financing comes from a share of the wagers made by punters less winnings paid out and taxes. This applies to on and off course betting. This share goes towards the France Galop’s main expense, i.e. the cost of running the PMU. The PMU is an economic interest grouping controlled by the various racing bodies and paid for by them pro rata according to their activity.

Other financing comes from:

• Services rendered to members: association membership fees, entry fees and cancellations, publications, use of training grounds, etc.
  
  
• Letting of real estate,
  
  
• Sponsorship of the major events,
  
  
• TV rights in France and abroad,
  
  
• Admission charges at the racecourses.

France Galop’s second highest cost, after the PMU, is the budget allocated to the prize money, bonuses and premiums paid to owners, breeders, trainers and jockey competing in races organised in France. FRANCE GALOP’s own running costs, including maintenance and renovation costs, real estate expenses, advertising and public relations, and any supplies. ...

Within the framework of its activities, France Galop also contributes to the federation charges designed to help the provincial racing bodies and to combat the use of banned substances.

Finally, FRANCE GALOP’s fourth main expense is the salaries of its 450 staff.
FRANCE GALOP also sets aside a significant investment budget.

THE JURISDICTIONAL SUBCOMMITTEE

The jurisdictional subcommittee is made up of a Chairman and the France Galop Stewards, whom the board elects by secret ballot and by majority, upon the proposal of the associate board members.
The 4-year mandate is renewable.

France Galop’s jurisdictional subcommittee is responsible for drawing up the Rules of Racing and their modifications for approval by the board of France Galop and for presenting for approval to the board the list of race stewards, race judges and members of the appeal authorities, which will be subject to the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Its opinion is also sought in advance by the board of directors regarding any proposed modification to the articles of association or to the association’s internal regulations.

The Jurisdictional Subcommittee is currently chaired by Mr. Alain de KERMADEC.
The France Galop stewards number 12 at the most and oversee the smooth running and regularity of races by exercising all of the powers vested in them by the Rules of Racing.

Also delegated to them is the power to grant authorisation to run, train and ride.