'There are no racing people left at France Galop' - former president hits out as French Classic prep races are combined

Former France Galop president Edouard de Rothschild has accused his successors of taking an "unthinkable" decision in amalgamating two key conditions races on Longchamp's card on Thursday. But his successors at the governing body have defended the decision as being based on "economic reality". 

France Galop introduced an amended rule on January 1 which requires pairs of races for colts and geldings and for fillies which attract an insufficient number of runners at the penultimate declaration stage to be run as one contest. 

The measure is designed to reduce the number of "failed" races which attract fewer than eight runners and thus damage the economics of the sport through diminished betting interest. 

The controversy surrounding Monday's decision to amalgamate the fillies-only Prix du Louvre and the Prix Machado for colts and geldings has arisen because, although neither is part of the Pattern, they have emerged in recent years as influential trials for the two French Guineas races, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Pouliches. 

Last season Rouhiya finished third in the Prix du Louvre before landing the Pouliches, while in 2021 Breizh Eagle won the Prix Machado before finishing third to St Mark's Basilica in the Poulains. 

Article 51 would not be invoked in the case of a pair of Group races, such as last Sunday's Prix de Fontainebleau and Prix de la Grotte, however many runners were likely to be declared. 

Edouard de Rothschild: the decision to amalgamate the Prix du Louvre and the Prix Machado is "unthinkable"Credit: Eamonn M. McCormack (Getty Images)

Rothschild's colours will be carried in the single-entity race by the Andre Fabre-trained filly Reine De Medicis, though his criticism went well beyond the specifics of this particular application of article 51, as he spoke in defence of certain races designed to serve the selection of the breed.

"There are no longer any horsemen, any racing people, at the heart of France Galop, only administrators," said Rothschild, who stood down from the post of president after four terms in December 2023. 

"I know very well the tension between finances and selection, but everything comes down to the art of treating each case on its merits. I find it unthinkable to have fused these two races at such short notice."

The newly reconstituted Prix du Louvre will feature ten starters, with all five of the intended colts and geldings having stood their ground, while three of eight fillies in the list of probable starters for the sex-restricted version of the race have come out. 

Francis Graffard will let Ultrafragola take her chance, though he told Paris-Turf that the decision showed France Galop was heading in "a very bad direction" on the subject. 

Ultrafragola: will take her chance in the Prix du Louvre despite trainer Francis Graffard's misgivingsCredit: Racing Post/Burton

Victoria Head has opted to run Sir Tommy Cen against stablemate Pinky Cen – both the colt and the filly represent owner Yeguada Centurion – pointing out that she had targeted the separate races "two months ago". 

In an interview with Jour de Galop, France Galop deputy director general Henri Pouret and head of programming for the Flat, Pierre Laperdrix, defended the measure, arguing that French racing could no longer afford to protect races below Pattern level on the grounds of trainer preference for running in small-field conditions races. 

"The only case in which article 51 does not apply is for major races and for races where France Galop does not provide the entire purse," the pair said. "The Prix du Louvre and Machado do not fit those criteria. 

"We understand the emotions that this arouses, but there is an economic reality at play. Races of this level with only five runners fall a long way short of paying for themselves. We cannot separate the idea these races could serve as a gateway to the Poules from economic reality." 

France Galop is due to run at a €15 million deficit in 2025 due to declining betting revenues from the PMU.

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