Cash is not king: card-only payment for food and drink introduced at Longchamp

British and Irish racegoers making their way to Longchamp on Sunday for the French Guineas should plan on keeping their euros in their wallets.

While cash is still needed for betting, the bars and food trucks at Longchamp now operate on a contactless payment system, with a free cashless card the only means of making a purchase in the garden area known as the Petit Pre.

The scheme was trialled at Auteuil last year and was introduced in the Petit Pre at Longchamp last month, with its use since rolled out to other outlets around the course.

Crucially for occasional visitors to the track, debit and credit cards can still be used in the main grandstand alongside the new system, although cash is no longer accepted.

The cashless card is designed to cut down waiting times at food and drink outlets, a problem which emerged during the successful first season of 'Jeudi' Thursday night meetings and which came to a head on Arc day last October.

Food trucks at Longchamp now accept only the cashless payment system rather than bank notes or debit cardsCredit: © Aprh / Clementine Veret

Racegoers will need to get their cards from the cashless bank kiosk in the Petit Pre, where they can charge them up using a debit or credit card. Should a transaction exceed the amount left on a card racegoers will need to recharge it, either through their phone or by returning to the bank kiosk.

The same applies to recouping any funds left on the card at the end of the day, although any balance will be valid on a return to Longchamp.

For details of how to register a card and track your cashless balance, it is worth visiting here ahead of your visit to set up an account, after which you can add one or more card numbers once you arrive at the races.

Check the balance of your Cashless card on your phoneCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

Those dining in the paddock-side Brasserie Longchamp will still be expected to pay by more traditional methods, but France Galop hopes to expand the system in the future to include betting with the PMU.

The Racing Post received a flood of complaints from British and Irish racegoers who found themselves in long queues at last season's Arc, after which France Galop executives vowed to learn lessons in terms of staffing and number of outlets.

While the Emirates Poule d'Essai meeting does not attract the same crowds, it will be the first day of the season attended by a significant number of foreign visitors.

As well as the two Classics and the Group 3 Prix Saint-Georges, the meeting will feature a wide range of activities for younger racegoers, for whom entry is free under the age of 18.

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