Fast Facts
Principal organisation: France Galop
Racecourses: 151
Registered thoroughbred foal crop of 2019: 5,632
Thoroughbred racehorses in training: 9,500 approx.
Most famous race: Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, run in October (Flat); Grand Steeplechase de Paris (National Hunt)
Learn more:
France Galop
IFCE
Aftercare
A grassroots organisation that organises training and racing for children from 5-18 years old. Training days, immersion, sourcing ponies, instruction, racing on the flat, for trotting and over jumps with over 760 entries in 114 different races!
Working with the local community, France Sire organises a year-long educational programme to bring schoolchildren and horses together in the west of France.
An industry initiative to make racing free for under-18s when accompanied by a paying adult, providing a fun, affordable family day out.
Free family entertainment is on offer for communities around Parisian racecourses, promising lots of racing excitement, fun and learning.
A series of races for university students and graduates. Participants are taught through the AFASEC racing school and gain practical experience with a trainer before competing at major racecourses.
This peer-based network introduces young people (18-30) to racing by organising events that make the sport more accessible. Learn more about the opportunities on offer in this case study.
Much more than a club, this organisation introduces horse lovers to the world of competition in racing and creates a life-long network for industry participants, based on the values of respect and camaraderie.
An annual showcase organised by the Thoroughbred Breeders Federation (Fédération des Éleveurs du Galop) which sees stallion farms across the country open their doors to breeders, racing professionals and fans for two days in January each year.
Three racehorse training centres worked with their local communities to put in place pre-school childcare that meets the unique demands of the industry.
If you work in the racing industry (thoroughbred or trotter), the AFASEC teams offer support through assistance schemes.
Organised by French racing’s aftercare charity Au Delà Des Pistes with France Galop, this initiative showcases the potential of retired thoroughbreds, bringing the equestrian and thoroughbred communities together and offering the opportunity to meet and get close to past champions with behind-the-scenes visits.
The official French racing school provides residential training for young people from the age of 14 to adults. It operates alongside the national curriculum to train up future jockeys, grooms and racing staff.
Secondary-level agricultural colleges provide training for work in the agricultural sector including the thoroughbred industry. There are many options depending on level, type of studies and location:
Equiressources provides a one-stop recruitment platform for jobs and placements within the racing, breeding and equestrian industries and is also a vital source of information for developing future employment practices.
The highly regarded MESB MS aims to train managers in the equine industry. The Mastère Spécialisé is a qualification guaranteeing international standards of excellence and equivalence. Watch the following interviews about the program:
These awards recognise and reward the hard work and dedication of stud and stable staff, acknowledging the huge contribution they make to the French racing industry.
