Grand Steeple-Chase Masters

THE GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE DE PARIS – THE ULTIMATE TARGET !

HOW TO GET THERE? VIA THE 1st EDITION OF THE GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE MASTERS

The GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE MASTERS: A series of racing highlights that focus and lead to the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, the greatest jump race of the year!

France Galop is launching the first edition of the GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE MASTERS and thanks to a rich and varied content on the @FranceGalop social media platforms, it will not only allow racing enthusiasts to increase their knowledge of jump racing but also provide them with a look behind the scenes. In fact, fans will be able to follow the preparation of jump racing’s current and future stars whilst experiencing the thrill of racing right up to the legendary Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, which takes place at the Auteuil racecourse. The race is renowned for taking its competitors over the long distance of 6,000 metres where they must master 23 formidable obstacles in order to win a share of the 820,000 euros prize pot. Incidentally, this is the most valuable race in the French jump racing calendar.

Races included in the GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE MASTERS, which takes place at the Auteuil racecourse, start towards the end of February and go right through to the end of April. The series features 5 major jump races, including the Prix Robert de Clermont-Tonnerre, the Prix Troytown, the Prix Murat, the Prix Ingré and the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris.

Over the course of 3 months, thanks to the enlistment of jump racing specialists Jacques Ricou, a highly successful former jump jockey, and Charly Milpied, a journalist at Equidia, fans will be able to get a close look at how horses and their connections prepare for the big event.
For this first edition of the GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE MASTERS, France Galop is proposing an immersive experience via hashtag #GRANDSTEEPLECHASE.
 

Discover the GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE MASTERS on VIDEO:

This project follows on from other France Galop initiatives highlighting the world of jump racing and aiming to familiarize as many people as possible with the different aspects of this discipline. Already in 2021, dedicated digital devices were put in place for Saturday racing at Auteuil and this winter pundit Charly Milpied provided the @FranceGalop social media platforms with video content from the Pau meeting.

Pundits Jacques Ricou and Charly Milpied alongside jump racing enthusiasts
From Monday 28 February, the day of the Prix Robert Clermont-Tonnerre, the first leg of the GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE MASTERS, which marks the return of jump racing’s giants to the Auteuil racecourse, fans can look forward to a flurry of unprecedented information on the @FranceGalop social media platforms. Under hashtag #GRANDSTEEPLECHASE they will be able to access interviews, features on how horses are prepared for the big events and jockey cam footage...

Former multiple champion jump jockey and 2015 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris winner Jacques Ricou and passionate jump racing journalist and Equidia TV presenter Charly Milpied will be the guides of the GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE MASTERS. They both have their own style of reporting and their mission will be to decipher and explain the world of jump racing so that as many people as possible can appreciate the great sport that takes place at Auteuil and join the ever-growing fan community.

« Charly's Diary »
Before each event of the GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE MASTERS, you will be able to watch an episode of "Charly's Diary". On camera, journalist Charly Milpied will reveal his list of horses to follow. He will give you an intimate introduction of their personality, their strength, their connections. And as a racing expert, he will tell you who impressed him most...

 “Go to the heart of the Masters” with Jacques Ricou
Following an outstanding career as a jump jockey, Jacques Ricou opens his address book to the France Galop community by taking them to meet the people who look after these equine champions. Before each event of the GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE MASTERS, he will share video clips of his behind-the-scenes visits, talk about the preparation of the horses and interview the trainers and jockeys that are involved in each of these races.

New: bonus for successful connections in the Grand Steeple-Chase Masters
France Galop is offering a new bonus to successful connections of the 2022 Grand Steeple-Chase and its prep races.  Connections (owner, trainer, jockey and stable staff) will share a €150.000 bonus if their horse wins two prep races, as well as the 2022 running of the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. A further bonus of €75.000 will be paid out if the horse goes on to win the Grand Slam: two prep races, the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris and the Prix La Haye Jousselin.

Prizes to be won in @FranceGalop social media competitions and quiz
Everyone will be able to test their knowledge of jump racing and answer the questions in our quiz. There are many prizes to be won online like a tour of the famous jumps at Auteuil with Jacques Ricou himself as a guide, invitations to spend a VIP day at the races....

Follow racing live at the Auteuil racecourse
The Auteuil racecourse, accessible by the metro (get off at Porte d'Auteuil), has vast open-air areas. The GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE MASTERS is the latest opportunity to discover the thrill of racing whilst enjoying a day in the open air, surrounded by the different shades of green of the Bois de Boulogne.
Various areas, the parade ring and the lawns in front of the track, allow spectators to get close to the heart of the action and appreciate the performance of these champions.
 

Admission from €3 per person, free for children under 12
(events are subject to the presentation of a vaccination pass according to current government guidelines).

Tickets can be booked on the France Galop website: HERE
 

Grand Steeple-Chase Masters supported by Equidia and PMU
The Grand Steeple-Chase Masters unites the different racing bodies. Equidia will promote the Grand Steeple-Chase Masters on air and on its different digital channels leading up to each of the key events, as well as on the day. As to the PMU, it will bring the highlights of jump racing to the fore in their betting locations and has created some special offers for its punters, including extra winnings when placing a forecast or straight forecast in one of the Grand Steeple-Chase Masters races, as well as special €1Million guaranteed jackpot for the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris.

Complete press service for journalists
As part of the GRAND STEEPLE-CHASE MASTERS, the France Galop media department will issue a press release after each event including quotes of the winning connections in French and English.

For the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, Zoom conferences (in French and English) with trainers who are likely to saddle one of the favourites for the race will be organised during the week before the event. A press release including quotes from other runners will also be sent out during that week.

On the day of the race, the France Galop media department will issue a press release that includes the finishing order, quotes of winning connections, race video free of rights, as well as jockey cam images.

Free of rights pictures for media only ICI