For many, it was the first time in their lives that they had demonstrated. Coming from Normandy, Maine-et-Loire, Brittany, Pau (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), Marseille… the professionals and enthusiasts of horse racing hit the streets of Paris on Thursday, November 7, 2024. Two horses and their riders opened the procession who traveled for almost three hours between Denfert-Rochereau and Les Invalides.
The police headquarters counted 1,750 demonstrators while the organizers announced that 10,000 people had come. “It’s not bad for a sector which has 30,000 direct jobs”welcomes Jean-Pierre Barjon, president of Trotteur français, the parent company which organizes trotting races in France. No horse racing took place on Thursday in France. An extremely rare occurrence.
The industry wanted to maintain pressure on the government which tabled an amendment aimed at surcharge on horse racing betting. But that wasn't the only goal. It was also an opportunity to proclaim that the sector considers itself in danger. “We are in crisis. PMU has lost half of its clients in ten years. We need new customers”explains to West France Jean-Pierre Barjon,
Adapting horse racing betting to new habits
This is why the sector is also pushing hard to ensure that the State accepts two new types of bets. The horse racing model “is based on a law that is 133 years old and prevents us from innovating, argues the president of Trotteur Français. We are currently also asking for it to evolve to adapt to new consumption patterns. »
Clearly, representatives of the sector want the State to authorize the taking of bets on past physical races “as already exists in the United States”. But also on live races. An amendment to this effect must pass this Friday, November 8 in the National Assembly. “In the (general) market of online, 50% of bets are taken live. And we don't have the right to do that. We are in a system that no longer allows us to follow new habits. Today, we need to adapt our offer”adds the trotting representative.
“We have to stay on the offensive”
The crack jockey Christophe Soumillon, originally from Belgium, also recalls that horse racing has “disappeared from his country, as in Italy”. He called for a fight to avoid the same disastrous fate for the French sector.
The procession stopped at Place Vauban around 4:30 p.m., with the Invalides in the background. Representatives of the sector took turns at the microphone, guided by Normand Thibault Lamare, spokesperson for the event. Six deputies of different persuasions gave their support to the sector. Éric Woerth, MP for Oise (Together for the Republic) and passionate about galloping races in particular, said: “I think that the amendment tabled by the government will not be taken up. The government and particularly the Minister of Public Accounts have been understanding but we must remain on the offensive” to defend the sector. And be heard.
