Davidson du Pont, winner of the legendary Prix d’Amérique, Vivid Wise As or Étonnant… These names could not imply something to you, however they’re actual stars of the pelotons. And these three horses will probably be current this Saturday at the Enghien-Soisy racecourse, for the prestigious Atlantic prize.
A poster that ought to attraction to racegoers, approved to return to the rings after a number of months of racing behind closed doorways. Canceled in 2020 as a result of Covid, then disputed with out a spectator in 2021, the Atlantic Prize, one of the 23 Group I occasions (the highest degree) organized every year in France, will certainly be disputed in entrance of an viewers. , which guarantees to be quite a few for the event.
In France, the Enghien website is the just one to prepare this kind of race, together with Vincennes (Val-de-Marne) and Cagnes-sur-Mer (Alpes-Maritimes). Nine occasions are deliberate, together with the Prix de l’Atlantique, harnessed trot race supporting the quinté +. “It marks the return of beautiful races”, smiles Julius Le Tutour, supervisor of the racecourses of Enghien-Soisy and Vincennes since July 1, 2021.
“We are still in a year of transition”
Like many areas, horse racing has certainly turned the web page on the well being disaster, with the return of spectators, the finish of the obligation of the well being cross, and even the lifting of the final gauges in March. Enough to thrill fans, preferring to expertise the races at the edge of the monitor, somewhat than in the halls of PMU.
In 2019, the Atlantic Prize introduced collectively greater than 8,000 individuals. “After the coronavirus, it’s troublesome to discover a common viewers, warns the supervisor. We are nonetheless in a yr of transition. People are beginning to come again, and the good climate goes to assist us. We overlook it too usually, however Enghien is the second French trotting racecourse, behind Vincennes. »
The monitor has had a facelift this winter
LeTROT, which manages the races, put the dishes in the huge ones on the event of this Atlantic prize, with a giant day of celebration on the theme of the seashore, with particularly inflatable constructions for the little ones, visits to the stables, and even pony baptisms for budding riders.
Especially since the Enghien-Soisy groups spared no effort throughout the winter. A number of months in the past, the 44 ha facility opened in 1879 underwent main upkeep work on the 2150 m monitor. Between 400 and 500 tonnes of sand had been thus introduced in, to advertise the consolation of the horses and the spectacle over the 38 days of races scheduled for 2022.