Allez France, the Arc, the Quinté and Marie Myriam on Eurovision

1 It was Spanish-born Joseph Oller who introduced the concept of pool betting on horseracing to France (and the world), unveiling the concept at La Manche racecourse on March 5, 1865. Oller towed around a distinctive yellow carriage in which clerks would handle all the tickets, while a board on top of the vehicle displayed the returns. Oller’s other main claim to fame is as co-founder of the Moulin Rouge in the Pigalle district of Paris.

2 Oller spent 15 days in prison during 1874 for operating “illegal gambling” but it would be his vision that the French state would later embrace. On June 2, 1891 the Assemblee Nationale passed the law banning bookmaking in France, and charging the societes meres(governing bodies)for racing and trotting – along with the Ministry of Agriculture – with the task of organising pari-mutuel betting, with the goal of “improving horse species and breeding as well as the rural economy.”

The punishment for illegal bookmaking was three years in prison and a fine equivalent to €90,000 in 2017 terms. Those found guilty of bookmaking as part of organised crime or racketeering faced seven years inside and a fine of €200,000.