Back to back blogs tonight before I chill and watch a movie to recharge. Today I went to the track, a place that forces you to take the good with the bad. There was a lot more good than bad, but still the bad has me a little bothered. So lets begin.
 |
| At the Paddock |
Hippodrome de Longchamp is a world renowned racecourse here in Paris. Their premiere even is run in October, its fittingly named Prix de Arc de Triomphe. That race is probably the most prestigious open grass race in the world. The Epsom Derby (which I will attend in two weeks) is the most prestigious for 3YO on turf, the Kentucky Derby for 3YO on dirt, and Breeders Cup Classic for open dirt. Now that you are an expert on international horse racing, I explain my day.
I take a cab to the course and examine my French racing form on the way. Only a mysterious black brief case handcuffed to my hand would have made the cab driver think I was more serious. I was studying, hard. Numbers are numbers, but working through the French required focus. On todays card was two Group One races and one Group Two race. There were also five other races on the card. Eight total. Considering that it was a nice day and there were two Group Ones, I was expecting a large crowd, considering further that Goldikova was running, I thought it could be packed. I show up one hour before post, this place was like Arlington Park on a Wednesday. Not many could be found early. The place was plenty nice, and reminded me a lot of Arlington. There just wasnt many people there and I wasnt certain how to navigate the grounds.
You find a total of eight seats in a day of French horse racing and you only find them a few minutes before post. There are no assignments and everyone does something else other than sit in the grandstand prior to post time. Therefore, there was no putting the form and beer down at the seats in order to walk around and make a wager. Everything went with you. The crowd ended up coming. Very strange crowd, mostly young families. Very few old timers smoking cigars talking about Alydar, or I guess in these parts, Alleged. Also, the crowd was certainly not a party crowd, there was only one concession stand in the public area, and anytime I needed a refill, I didnt even wait in line. Far from Saratoga or Keeneland. But unique none the less, I enjoyed the atmosphere and trying to wager in french.
The racing was world class, Goldikova won her 2011 debut.
Click here if you would like to read about it. Andre Fabre's, Wavering, won the other Group One today. Also, an American bred Team Valor horse won the Group Two. So how could this day have had any bad? Well, I didnt capitalize on a single one of these easy selections. Didnt cash ticket one. I knew Goldikova was going to win, but whats the fun in that? I threw money away by trying to beat her. I got nosed out in two other races, one of which the photo was reversed, totally unheard of!! All in all frustrating from a turf point of view today. This isnt my first rodeo and there will other days, however...there was no Mercedes taxi (or any for that matter) waiting on me at the exit, so deservedly, I walked my ass two miles home losing papers in hand.
 |
| Finish line at Longchamp |
 |
| Impressive champion mare Goldikova |
 |
| One trip to the infield, best picture of the day. |
