RACING AT PARIS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 30, 6 February 1933, Page 4

RACING AT PARIS

DE LUXE CONDITIONS

- Racing in Paris is racing-de-luxe. The tracks are' laid out with spacious grandstands, occupying large, park-like enclosures,' where shady shrubberies and lawns surround the parade rings. Except for a small reserved portion of the stands, the member has no advantage that the ordinary Parisian racegoer does not enjoy. Ladies are admitted for halfprice, and the catering arrangements are beyond criticism.I was surprised, says a correspondent o£ the London "Sporting Life," to see the enormous crowds on week-days, but this js probably due to XUe fact that practically all tbs courses are within "halfan hour's, char-a-banc ride from the heart of Paris —these vehicles pick one up at any of the big centres, and charge three or four francs. The entrance fee to the .racecourse field, as it is called, is five francs, and a race card one franc. ...... Chiet rings,'corresponding with Tatt's, vary, frota,,6o to. 50 francs -for-gentlemen and 40 -to; 30 francs for ladies. Where there are silver rings the /charge; ia 15 francs, A French, innovation is r."tha state of the market" service. ■ Fpr payment of *tefc-francs one receives three slips,"the last just before the. "off," indicating the approximate* odd* oif every runner. "■■'-'■ " At Enghien;: a ateeplechas'e tracks there is.a specialitotalisatqr building where one ca»' "insure": against ones-fancy coining to grief. In 'chases the fee is ten francs on a- fifty francs wager, and in events over the minor obstacles five francs on fifty. After every race the numbers of fallen horses are inserted iii a frame, and stakes,' less "insurance" fee, returned. A few remarks on the courses may.be of general interest. . Auteuil (hurdles and 'chasing)— Sport takes place from February to middle, of December. Probably the most picturesque of the French courses. Chantilly (flat). —Corresponding to Newmarket. Racing iv June and July and part oi September. Principal races: French Derby and Oaks. ] ' Bnghien (hurdles, 'chasing, and trotting).—Racing February to December. Features are the excellent stands,-one 6£ which, is free to the general public. Every incident of the racing is visible from the stands. . . . ■ .. - . <-,:.. . . • .;-•- liongchamp (flat).--Racine from. April to the end of October. ■■The favourite course of Parisians. :,Chief event is the Grand Prix de Paris, decided xiv ■ the! la^t Sunday in June. '' J ,-\ •, '- ' . Maisons-Lafftttc ■: (flat,-,; 'chasing, . and hurdles).—Sport from March to November. . ■ V.-- ■:■'-•■■-■'.• --p-.-.-X ■;< . he Tremblay (flat).—Spprs from Maroh to Octobei'. : . :■ ■ ; -..-; -":.. ; - ■ Saint-Cloud (flat), —Sporf ,from March to November. Chief race^is:the.Prix; dv Presidents de la Kepublique.'riiu m July,' There are also Vincennesi'.'VHWe, trotting and 'chasing are. provined froni November to February, and'1 Oowpiegne^ 'a flat, 'chasincr, and hurdles Jrack'sonie way out from Paris, pnly :i'-:'f4w."nfeetings take place at Compiegne. ■/•.•.'.. ■ i'.■;'{;,■'s#&■■* The' French executive have, one- gfceat fault^-they have no sense of. time. every meeting-1 attended ;the;fii'st' race started at least' half: an hoiir ;iafter schedule. But who cares in Paris?