EN SAVOIR PLUS
The full low-down on the annual race card
The disciplines
Racing consists of two specialities: trotting, overseen by the Société d'Encouragement du Cheval Français, and flat & jumps racing, managed by France Galop.
The two disciplines run by France Galop:
- Flat: races are contested over distances of between 800 and 4,000 metres. The so-called “Classic” distance is 2,400 metres (or a mile and a half) and corresponds to the international meetings (the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France, the Epsom Derby in England, the Japan Cup, etc). in flat racing, the horses have to carry weights of between 50 (the bottom weight) and 65 kilos (top weight.) These weights are the extremes, with the average being 52 or 53 kilos. The jockey is weighed with his saddle, jersey, protective vest and his boots. The cap and whip are not included.
- Jumps: races are contested over distances of between 2,800 and 7,300 metres. The horses have to carry weights of between 61 and 75 kilos. Jumps races can be hurdles (identical hedges only), steeplechases (with at least 4 different obstacles on the course such as stream, fence, wall, oxer, etc…), or cross-countries (run over longer distances and with a partly natural course punctuated with various natural obstacles).