The bitter cold on this Epiphany did not attract the crowds to the "Dimanche plaisirs" at the Vincennes racecourse. And that's pretty good. The first thing to do when you arrive is to book the follower bus and/or the visit to the stables, both of which are free. We opt for the minibus, in the warmth, to follow the 14:30 p.m. start on the track, in the wheels of the judges' truck. Kondor, the number 8, starts as the favourite in this mounted trotting race. "Those whose names begin with the letter K turned 4 years old on January 1st," comments the guide.
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To our right, the trotters are rushing forward. Female jockeys mingle with the boys. The number 1 will do practically his entire race at a gallop, triggering laughter around us. Disqualified. "The horse is not allowed to take more than 15 strides at a gallop. The judges in front of us are there to count," the guide continues. It's fun to be so close to the trotters during the 2,700m race. 3 minutes and thirty seconds. In front of us, we see the audience in the outdoor stands, and those in the warmth behind the windows, high up. With our eyes riveted on the race, we watched, amused, the rise of the 12th, then the 8th, the favourite, who was stolen in the last seconds by the 5th. Number 1 continues to gallop.
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