Holder of a Master's degree from the Sorbonne, specializing in issues relating to Latin America, Mathieu Sauvajot first wrote articles dealing with the geopolitics and economy of this continent, before turning to the field of sport. He is now an editor with the Observatoire du Sport Business.
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DOSSIER - The Sport Business Observatory
Recognized for its jockeys, its training centers and its racecourses, what would France be without its horse racing?
Paradoxically, if the interest does not weaken, as evidenced by the number of bets recorded each year, the French seem less and less inclined to come and experience the experience from the stands, despite the efforts of big names in football or basketball to to convince them.
Fortunately, some meetings are exceptional and manage to attract crowds thanks to a legendary race, like the Prix d'Amérique in Vincennes.
Since its first edition in 1920, the Prix d'Amérique has changed a lot.
Named in homage to the American soldiers who supported France during the First World War, it has evolved with the times, on the sporting level by adapting its distances and conditions of participation, but also on the economic level.
While this year an allocation of one million euros will be put into play, it was around 20,000 francs a century ago now.
Of course, its many often colorful champions have also greatly contributed to the prestige of the race.
From Pro Patria, winner of the first two editions – whose name is not unrelated to the time in which he lived – to Roquépine, which gave his first title to the famous Pape de Vincennes, Jean-René Gougeon, or even Idéal du Gazeau, double winner of the event and much more still from the height of his 1.56 m, without forgetting of course Ourasi, this "lazy king" who will race under the eyes of Mitterrand, on this same Hippodrome of Vincennes, before return to legend a year later by winning the most beautiful trotting race for the fourth time.
This is no doubt what he would tell us, if only the Hippodrome de Vincennes could talk.
Total suspense for this new Panoramic edition
A year full of events
Each year its champions, and of course 2022 will not have been an exception, starting with the fight between Eric Raffin and the Abrivard family to win the golden sulky.
Mission accomplished for the fourth consecutive year with 258 victories, just to get closer to Jean-Michel Bazire, even if there is still a long way to go.
The year was also good for Philippe Allaire, crowned best owner, but above all, an exceptional trainer who could boast of having allowed the horses in his charge to win 11,992 on average, even if it must be admitted that on Sportingly, not only has Thierry Duvaldestin shown himself to be much better, but the best is yet to come.
Everyone is now waiting for only one thing, the confrontation between his protege, Idao de Tillard, and Horsy Dream, driven by Eric Raffin himself.
The first will be the big favorite for this edition of the Prix d'Amérique, nothing more normal with 18 victories and €866,930 in earnings throughout his career, including €720,300 in 2022 alone, but he should not neglect his rival, because although more modest in terms of earnings, namely €433,470 since his debut, he is just as talented, as evidenced by his two victories at the Prix Ténor de Baune and the Prix de Belgique.
What about the Swedish competitors this year, you ask?
Because after all, a Prix d'Amérique without Sweden would be a bit like a football World Cup without Brazil.
Unfortunately, their undisputed and undefeated champion on their native soil with €600,000 in cumulative earnings, Calgary Games, did not manage to qualify at Vincennes, despite a high-flying season.
No matter, the future belongs to him and as you will have understood, this year the competition will be no less formidable.
Each year, more than 500 journalists from around twenty countries as well as 40,000 spectators come to Panoramic
All eyes on America
Where the Prix d'Amérique is not a race like the others is in its ability to attract all eyes for a day, and this, well beyond the borders of France.
Of course, French viewers are still there, like the 1.135 million of us who watched the race in 2021 (i.e. 9.2% market share) but we are far from being the only ones, because no less than 36 countries broadcast it.
As for the lucky ones able to attend the event from the racecourse, they also tend to be particularly numerous, each year, more than 500 journalists from around twenty countries as well as 40,000 spectators make the move.
Often too little frequented, the stands of Vincennes overflow then,
If a little more than two million euros are put into play by Le Trot during the meeting - including one million only for the queen race, often with great support from patronage - more than 31 million euros are played. by almost 6 million bettors on average, hoping to hit the jackpot.
This year again, a duel between two big names is looming for the final victory and a majority of bettors will not take any risks, however, in 2010, it was indeed the most daring who were rewarded with the victory of Oyonnax, whose odds was then 173/1, which is reminiscent of how the world of trotting is so different from that of galloping.
While the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, or even that of Diane at Chantilly, cannot break away from the elitist image they reflect,
Among the first-time participants in the Prix d'Amérique 2023, which trotters are at the top of the earnings ranking?
The Trot
