The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) and France Galop, a symbiosis of great racing cultures
The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) represents Qatari investment in the racing world, also enabling the state to return to its roots and its traditional attachment of everything relating to the equine species.
QREC is responsible for organising and promoting Qatari racing in its own country as well as through its partnerships, contributing to strong links with the industry France and the spectacular results.
Since 2008, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and 14 other Group races in France have been under its banner. It is thanks to this important partner, that France Galop can hold the world’s richest turf race, worth €5 million.
Aside from the prestigious Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe week-end amongst others, Qatar also shows its support to a number of Purebred Arabian races in France, a sport that the state is also very attached to.
The Qatar Arabian World Cup, a race that they have sponsored since 2014 and run on the same day as the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, has seen its prize money rise to an unprecedented €1 million.
Qatar also supports a number of important race meetings in Great Britain, notably Glorious Goodwood and Champions’ Day at Ascot under QIPCO.
The members of Qatar’s ruling Al Thani family have become some of the world’s most important owners, and have also turned their hand to breeding with ever-increasing success.
Longines, the “Timekeeper” of International Racing
The Swiss watchmaker Longines has been rooted in the world of sport since 1878. In France, they are currently the official timekeepers at the racecourses of Chantilly, Deauville and Longchamp. The Prix de Diane Longines, run every June at Chantilly, perfectly represents this elegant partnership, mirroring performance and precision. The Prix de l’Opera, a championship race for fillies and mares run during the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe week-end, is also sponsored by the brand.
In addition, Longines is a partner of the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities and sponsors the International Classifications as well as the International Jockeys’ Championship. They are also associated with top class racing events in Australia, the UAE, Qatar, South America, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Ireland, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and China, as well as in the United States.
Through these partnerships, Longines is associated with the most prestigious horse racing meetings across the globe and, as a result, merits the title of the "timekeeper" of racing.
The Barriere Group, the historical partner of the Deauville Summer Meeting
Established in Deauville, the Barriere Group have become one of the most important jewels in France’s crown of hotel groups and casinos, both domestically and abroad.
Their partnership with France Galop, that has lived for the rhythm of the Normandy coast every summer since the creation of the racecourse there in 1863, is also cultural and historical. Both have contributed to the emergence of Deauville as one of the most popular seaside destinations in the world.
The Group was also the sponsor of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe between 1999 and 2007, and the links are still particularly strong. The Grand Prix de Deauville Lucien Barriere, the final highlight of the Deauville Summer Meeting and a springboard towards the Arc, perpetuates this union of two brands of recreation on the beaches of Normandy.
Coolmore, the multinational Thoroughbred
Rare are the thoroughbred breeders in the world that don’t know the name of the Irish stud, Coolmore. Created in Ireland but now also with farms in the United States and Australia, the organisation’s origins date to the 1970s and the partnership of three men: Robert Sangster, John Magnier, and Vincent O’Brien.
The expertise, resources and ambition of these three combined that saw them buy the first offspring of the soon to be legendary stallion Northern Dancer, have changed the history of the breed. Selected and subsequently trained by O’Brien, financed by Sangster, and managed by Magnier, these gave Coolmore the firepower to quickly reach the summits of breeding and racing.
In 2016, the operation recorded a never before achieved feat in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe when owning the first three home, Found, Highland Reel, and Order Of St. George all homebred offspring of their multiple times Champion Sire, Galileo, a grandson of Northern Dancer.
Having been partnered with several investors over the years, Coolmore is still managed by John Magnier, who has continually developed and evolved the operation to keep it at the forefront of the industry. Horses bred or bought by Coolmore have won nearly all the major races across the world, and their stallions are amongst those that are the most in demand across both hemispheres.
Today, Coolmore, the flagship of Irish breeding, has around 60 stallions spread between its three studs. In particular, Northern Dancer’s son Sadler’s Wells and subsequently his sons Galileo and Montjeu have continued a line that has given rise some of the best thoroughbreds in the world.
France Galop has been partnered with Coolmore since 2006, and the Pour Moi Prix Saint-Alary, part of the fillies’ triple crown run in the spring at Longchamp for the three-year-old female generation, carries the name of a stallion that will always hold a special place in the heart of the French. Winner of the Epsom Derby in 2011, this achievement came an astounding 45 years after the previous French victory in the most famous of British Classics.
Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard, taking a principal role in the Prix Jacques Le Marois
Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard, situated in the Orne, is one of the most important cradles of French breeding. It is here that Marcel Boussac bred his champions, becoming one of the most important owner-breeders in Europe from the 1920s up until the 70s. This included winning the Prix Jacques Le Marois 10 times, the summit of the summer season for milers.
In 1980, the stud came under the ownership of Stavros Niarchos, one of the most well-known Greek shipping magnates after the war. By modernising the stud but keeping with its traditions, his colours were carried to victory eight times in the Jacques Le Marois.
One of these winners, Miesque, one of the most eclectic fillies of the time, won the race in 1987 and a year later before producing some top-class stallions as well as a winner of the Jacques Le Marois herself, East Of The Moon, who went on to become an excellent broodmare herself.
The stud and the race have been closely intertwined throughout their history, with the current sponsorship of the Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard – Prix Jacques Le Marois dating back to 1986 (the oldest partnership in French racing)…
Sumbe, the new sponsorship of Prix Morny
The Sumbe group is owned by Nurlan Bizakov, who breeds and owns racehorses (he also stands stallions and currently has about 50 horses in training). In addition to the historic Hesmonds Stud in England, Sumbe has two studs in France: the Haras de Monfort & Préaux (bought in 2019) and Mézeray (2021) that stretch over 350 hectares between the regions of Orne and Calvados. These stud farms are the home to four outstanding stallions: Mishriff, Golden Horde, De Treville and Recorder, together with 50 broodmares and boarders. Last year Sumbe celebrated a Group 1 victory as an owner/breeder when Belbek lifted the prestigious Qatar Prix de Jean-Luc Lagardère.
In the wake of a breakout past season, they wish to further establish themselves as a long-term player and partner of the industry while asserting our support to this beautiful, beloved game which never leaves us short of bedazzlement. The Meeting de Deauville Barrière, with its very international appeal, is a good reflection of Sumbe’s indentity.
American Racing Channel (ARC), the partner of a new world
American Racing Channel (ARC) exporte dans le monde entier les images et les licences de paris des institutions hippiques des The American Racing Channel (ARC) exports worldwide the images and betting licenses of the equestrian institutions of the main thoroughbred breeding and racing countries of South America, in particular Argentina, Uruguay and Peru.
Horse racing in these countries has undergone a singular effort since the interwar period, and under the joint influence of Europe and North America, their breeding has developed greatly. The Latin American racing program was very well received by the French public when Equidia, the racing and horse channel, began broadcasting its meetings in France, and it was to crown the success of this venture that ARC became, in 2012, the official partner of the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr1), one of the summer championships in Deauville.
Mercedes-Benz Paris, Official Vehicle of « L’hippodrome en Famille » and « JeuXdi by ParisLongchamp »
Mercedes-Benz Paris, the distribution subsidiary of the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Group brand, is the official partner and vehicle for all the dates of two events taking place at France Galop racecourses
France Galop racecourses: "L'Hippodrome en Famille", the ideal outing for children, combining racing and entertainment, and "JeuXdi by ParisLongchamp", the most popular after-work events in Paris.
Through these operations, Mercedes-Benz Paris wishes to continue to promote its position as the e-mobility reference in the Paris region and to highlight its range of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, which is the widest on the market.
Haras d’Etreham, a reference of French Breeding
Since 2019, this great house of French breeding with its renowned stallions that are the European leader of the jumping SAINT DES SAINTS, the Steeple-Chaser champion GOLIATH DU BERLAIS, the rising star of the jumping MASKED MARVEL or the young stallion and only winner of Gr1 by Camelot at stud, LATROBE.
The Normandy stud is the official partner of the Haras d'Etreham Prix Magalen Bryant (Gr2), a hurdle race reserved for 3-year-old fillies (over 3,600 m), with a total prize money of €175,000 thanks to the partnership's contribution, takes place every year on the Auteuil racecourse, on the Saturday of the 48h de l'Obstacle weekend in early November. On this occasion, the Haras d'Etreham will reward the winning filly's entourage and offer her owner a covering from one of its jumping stallions.
The Haras d'Etreham continues its commitment on the flat by becoming the partner of the Prix Jean Prat, Gr.1 for 3-year-old males over 1400 m in Deauville.
Abu Dhabi Sports Council, new partner of French Guineas weekend
Abu Dhabi Sports Council was established in 2006 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The Abu Dhabi Sports Council is aligned to the emirate’s leadership vision to develop sport and youth activities. It organises many sporting events in Abu Dhabi and internationally, including golf, Formula 1, triathlon, sailing, cycling and horse racing.
Abu Dhabi Sports Council has become the title partner of Emirates Poules d'Essai, the day when two of the most important events in the French program are held: Emirates Poules d'Essai des Poulains and Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. The partnership with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council will also include the European Arabian Horse Cup, a Group 1 race for thoroughbred Arabian horses and part of The President of the UAE Cup Series.