Equi Tours, a Swedish travel agency specializing in travel to equine events around the world, will once again offer a package for North Americans who want to see the Prix d'Amerique in Paris in January, 2009.
"We've conducted this tour for our Scandinavian clients for many years and it's proven quite popular," said Marie Nyberg, owner of Equi Tours. "Earlier this year we had a group of Americans join us and I think they were quite impressed by Paris sightseeing and all the grandeur of the Prix d'Amerique."
American trainer Doug Miller, who went on the tour, agreed, saying, "I've seen lots of Hambletonians, Jugs, and even the International Trot when it was at Roosevelt Raceway, but the Prix d'Amerique is undoubtedly the greatest spectacle I've ever seen in harness racing."
Jean Brown from Blue Chip Farm said, "The Equi Tours Prix d'Amerique trip is the best horse trip I've ever taken to see a race. It exceeded all my expectations. The people were wonderful to work with and there was no language barrier at all. All we had to do is simply have fun."
The Equi Tours Prix d'Amerique tour is a ground package only, allowing guests to book their own flights to Paris and to stay as long as they wish. The tour covers Jan. 22-26 in Paris.
"There is so much to see and do in Paris, of course, that you can't do it all in a few days," said Nyberg. "Our emphasis is on the Prix d'Amerique, a trip to the Grobois training center, and to the auction and trade expo at Vincennes prior to the Prix d'Amerique. We include a Paris By Night sightseeing tour, but guests can always stay longer. In fact, I know several of the Americans went to Normandy to see D-Day beaches and battle sites."
Nyberg said that American trotting journalist Dean Hoffman, who has seen the Prix d'Amerique several times, will be accompanying the 2009 Prix d'Amerique tour.
The trip to the Grobois training center is often a highlight for horsemen as it's truly a kingdom for the horse. Equi Tours guests had a chance to meet and talk with Pierre Levesque on the day before he drove Offshore Dream to his second straight victory in the Prix d'Amerique.
For more information on the Prix d'Amerique trip for 2009, go to equitours.se. You can also contact them at [email protected] or contact Dean Hoffman at 614-457-8750.