Paris

[Kingfisher]

So TGJB, from one who intends to try, how exactly does one handicap (skillfully) while in France?

[TGJB]

I am very interested in hearing the answer to that myself. Didn\'t get to the track there(that would have been really pushing it with my girlfriend, 3 times in 6 days-- she said she was okay with it, but there\'s no telling what and when it would have cost me). I am interested in what you proposed earlier-- when are you going?

[Lansdon]

Have a couple of horses in France and have attended races there a few times.

I\'ve found it very difficult to handicap races there.  First off, they have no info like we have (DRF, etc).  They have a publication that gives past racing info, but it is very confusing to someone who is not accustomed to it (they probably say the same about our info).

Also, interestingly, they only race a day or so at each track and then go to another venue.  No 30, 60 or 90 day meets ... just a handful of race dates throughout the year.

That being said, the racing venues there are absolutely beautiful.  All turf, of course, and immaculately maintained.  I love the racing there.

LR

[Lansdon]

Also, if you go to Paris, you must visit Chantilly.  This is the main city for training horses in that area.  It is about 45 minutes from Paris (15 minutes from Charles De Gaulle).

It is just an awesome horse place ... when you see it you will know what I mean!  They have over 50 kilometers of horse training tracks spread througout a beautiful forrest.  There is a chateau (now a museum) there as well, including a horse bard built in the 1800s that is 3 blocks in size (the guy (king?) that build it thought he was going to be reincarnated as a horse, so he built this beautiful \"barn\" castle for horses).  

If you have seen the James Bond movie w/ Grace Jones and Christopher Walken (\"The World Is Not Enough\"?? I think) ... they have a 15 minute segment that is filmed at Chantilly.  Good luck and have a great time!   LR

[OPM]

It wasn\'t The World is Not Enough, it was the one after Octopussy but I can\'t remember the name right now.  It was so bad that it was Roger Moore\'s last Bond flick.

[Old Mr. Boston]

A number of years ago a French handicapper wrote a book on the subject. I believe his name was Bartolomade. I never knew his first name. You may be able to find it in a local library in France. Good Luck...
Old Mr. B

[Kingfisher]

There are Group 1 races this Sunday at Longchamp and July 4 at St. Cloud.  Rest of July not so great in terms of big stakes races, at least from what I can tell so far, then G1 races each weekend at Deauville in August.  But the big day is clearly going to be Arc day at Longchamp. Six Gr. 1 races on Oct 3, four Gr. 2 races the day before. Thinking about going this weekend, though, just to get a feel for it.

[Kingfisher]

Come on over for the Arc in October, Mr. B.

[HP]

OPM is thinking of \"A View To A Kill.\" Phew indeed. Ghastly.

I\'m thinking of launching a new product for French racing. Here\'s the ad campaign hook...

\"Nothing sweeter will I see,
than Freedom Fries at Chantilly.\"

Don\'t steal my idea.

HP

[Kingfisher]

Freedom Fries-  is that a colt or a filly?