In a rematch from this year's Prix d'Amerique, Ready Cash and Maharajah once again waged war on the racetrack in the 2011 Prix de France, and the stellar trotters were 1-2 at the finish
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The 2011 European Grand Circuit kicked off with the Prix de France, a race for EUR400,000 over 2,100 metres. Early on, it shaped up much like the Prix d'Amerique with Lana Del Rio setting the tempo, Maharajah (Ôrjan Kihlström) in the outer flow and Ready Cash (Franck Nivard) on his helmet. As the field hit the top of the stretch, Maharajah powered past the pacesetter and Nivard tipped out Ready Cash to take aim at the new leader.
In the final strides, Ready Cash was able to power past the Swedish sensation for the lion's share of the purse. Lana Del Rio stayed for third, while U.S star Wishing Stone finished seventh in his European debut.
Ready Cash became just the 11th trotter in harness racing to capture the Prix d’Amerique and Prix de France in the same year. The mile rate was 1:53.1, well off the 1:52.2 stakes record.
(Photo credit: Scoopdyga)
Ready Cash will be the horse
Ready Cash will be the horse of the year. His connections said he can go less than 1'50" near 1'49" at Woodbine, next October, but it's not the only star in France. The other is RAPIDE LEBEL, but like a gelding, he is banned for the classic program in our country.
We have also a swedish horse training in Normandy by Fabrice Souloy (the guy who received Wishing Stone a few weeks ago) COMMANDER CROWE... You will see him in the Nat Ray. Unbeatable. I Promise you.
Fabrice Theil.
Ah Mr. Henriksen. I don't
Ah Mr. Henriksen. I don't know and have never met you. I have watched your "show" for two decades and would have to agree with others that call you a "true professional". So lets assume they are right and your comments are from an "insider" with total experience and are accurate. While in my view there is lots of blame to go around. What would you suggest to try and turn this North American "disaster" around?
IMPROVEMENT OF THE FRENCH
IMPROVEMENT OF THE FRENCH HORSES
Since 1891- this the goal and mission and reason of the existing horse racing industry in France and everething under the agricultural minister responsability.
No commercial operator is authorize to organise races and betting in France.
HERE, THE COMMERCIAL OPERATOR, ORGANISE THE INDUSTRY AND ASK THE INVESTORS, BREEDERS AND OWNERS TO MAKE THE SHOW AND HE GIVE WHAT EVER HE WANTS.
In America, breeeders are not rich enough to breed, raise, train and race horses.
Look at Dubois, he breeds, raises, trains and races his products.
From Jan. 1-11, Dubois and his sons( family) have already earned more than $1.8 million, plus the breeders award from all races (own horses and bred)
Dont wait for a minister to make a politicial announcement that starting today, video poker revenus are given to medicare.
Richard
Not an even racing field for
Not an even racing field for sure. If you were the owner of a horse racing 2 and 3 wide the whole mile would you be satisfied unless he was tons the best. Different racing tactics there.
Prix de France illustrates
Prix de France illustrates the fundamentals of the sports business:
o Organization Structure
o Uniformity of Purpose
o Quality Product - in this case racing and wagering
o Promotion
o Culture
A recent FR poster aptly describes it as 100% tactics, 100% physique and 200% sports.
You don't see in America
You don't see in America such a show. They have the recipe to please to their fans. In America, we love horses but we cannot get organised. But you should know that in France all the 300 hippodromes are non-lucrative organisations. The private enterprise, breeders and owners, since 1891.
In 1985, Mayor of Montreal, Mr Jean Drapeau, told me ' A great city, a stadium, a place des arts and a grand hippodrome'
In 1975, When Jean-Pierre Dubois drove for me in Paris, Parisa had 8 hippodromes.
But in Quebec, all the horsemen, were blind, could not understand amd even after many organised trips at The Prix D'Amérique, they where on their knees in front of the commercial operator.
In 1962, Japan took all their ideas in France. Yesterday, at Vincennes, the Japan tourist organisation, had a name on each race, to promote Japan and their horse industry.
After a life in the harness industry, America does not have the organisation to make the same kind of success. But each day of my life, Horse racing in Europe, will always be my opening web site. How come that in 1900, Quebec had 101 racetracks registered?
This is a product you can
This is a product you can give the bettors and fans, did you see the Prix D Amerique - even better. To see 8 or 10 horses coming out of the first turn on one line does not cut it anymore. North America is the only place that needs help from slots to exist.