Longchamp Racecourse – Triumphant Horse Racing
Longchamp Racecourse is one of the most important horse racing venues in Europe. Located minutes from the Eiffel Tower, the Longchamp Racecourse features a 2,400-meter (about 1.5-mile) course and the area extends over 57 hectares, between the Seine and the Bois de Boulogne. There are four horse racing tracks of different sizes: the large track (2,750 meters), the average-sized track (2,500 meters), the small track (2,150 meters) and the sprint track (1,000 meters). There are 46 different starting posts on the tracks for horse racing distances ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 meters. The turf track comprises an uphill and downhill slope with a challenging rising straight as you come out of the final bend. The Finish line extends over 650 meters to the 2nd post.
The first ever race was run at Longchamp on Sunday April 27th 1857 in the presence of Emperor Napoleon III and his wife Eugenie and a massive crowd. In the late spring of 1914, Longchamp hosted the first Grand Prix de Paris, which was the world’s richest race at that time, with prize money totaling FF 300,000. As a complement to this race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was run for the first time on October 3rd 1920. It was named in tribute to the courage of French soldiers during the First World War. Today it is considered the most important flat race in Europe and participants are winners of classical races in England, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy. The mile and a half long track is difficult with ups and downs and only an animal with speed and stamina in equal measures will triumph here. The highlight of the horse racing calendar, the Arc de Triomphe Weekend that takes place on the first weekend in October each year is followed by 45,000 spectators and 1 billion television viewers in 191 countries!
Longchamp Racecourse lives up to legendary French culinary traditions and has two very tastefully decorated restaurants. They are “Le Panoramique” that overlooks the race course, and “La brasserie Gladiateur“. In addition there are other fast food outlets and bars. The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barrière VIP Village is positioned close to the finishing line and stretches all along the Longchamp track. It offers the perfect views of the proceedings on the track. The VIP Village is the ideal place to enjoy an exceptional day watching the world’s finest thoroughbreds in action.
A scenic venue for flat racing Longchamp holds 31horse racing meetings a year with races for Quinte + betting from March 25th to October 24th. Its variety of tracks and famous hill is a tough test for the world’s best thoroughbreds. There are certain landmarks and special features of the course including a historic windmill, the old time totaliser- in a neo-Norman structure, the Suresnes pond and the woods. Children can enjoy free pony rides at the port de Suresnes and central lawn entrance. Young children can be left with qualified child-minders to take part in creative workshops or other fun activities.
