Le Bel Anjou ©André Viguier
The Hippodrome Côte d’Azur will offer an exciting show with The Great Obstacle Day on Sunday January 10, highlight of the winter season of obstacle race.
The Hippodrome Côte d’Azur is preparing for the excitement of The Great Obstacle Day on Sunday January 10, 2016, the flagship event of the Winter Meeting. Seven thrilling races of the highest sporting level will close the obstacle race season in Cagnes-sur-Mer. The highlight of the obstacle day will be the Grand Prix de Nice, a Group III race with the elite athletes.
More than 2,000 visitors are expected for the Great Obstacle Day, a spectacular equestrian rendezvous presented on January 6 by Thomas Roucayrol, Executive Director of the Hippodrome Côte d’Azur, in the presence of coaches and owners at the hippodrome’s Salon Massena.
Coaches and owner around Thomas Roucayrol
A sports show of great beauty
With seven races in total, including Group III ones, an extremely qualitative sport level, the Great Obstacle Day on Sunday brings together at the Hippodrome in Cagnes-sur-Mer – the second hippodrome in France after Vincennes – the elite of Thoroughbred, athletes at the highest level of their shape, sharpened by preparatory courses “to get their feet wet”.
At the starter signal, the Pure Blood will race on at full tilt, driven by jockeys with multicolored silks, to the encounter of obstacles standing on the course, offering the most exciting sporting spectacle, emphasized by the thunder of hooves of galloping horses. The different tracks – grass or sand – of the Hippodrome Côte d’Azur stand out against a sublime panorama between the blue of the Mediterranean – often sun-drenched in winter – and the mountains.
Everything is set to to satisfy one’s thirst of beauty, sports and emotions.
Hippodrome Côte d’Azur ©André Viguier
Seven races at the highest level
On the start, four top high level events, in addition to the Prix Christian Fornaroli, the Prix Romantisme – Marcel Maschio and the Prix Gnam Shp:
– the Prix Masséna will reward the best horse of 4 years on the hedges of Cagnes.
– the Prix Christian de l’Hermitte will be awarded to the best 4 years horse on Grand Steeple-Chase. The obstacles are higher and more complex than in the hurdles and can be composed of embankments, fences, screens, ditches, hedges, walls, mounds, moats.
– the Grande Course de Haie de Cagnes will consecrate the best horse of age (5 years +) on hedges.
– the Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice – Bernard Secly will consecrate the best horse of age on the Group III grand steeplechase.
©André Viguier
The Winter Meeting promises: it will mess up your hair!
The Grand Prize of the City of Nice is the most important race of the Cagnes-sur-Mer hippodrome in the Obstacle discipline. Of high sports level, bringing together the elite of the jumpers, the Group III event has a € 140,000 allocation shared between the first 7. The horse winner of the race will pocket € 63,000 and its owner will also receive a sculpture by Sacha Sosno, entitled “There is no more obstacle”, replica of the size sculpture at the entrance of the hippodrome.
Adrenaline, atmosphere and emotions
Filled with adrenaline, the atmosphere of the hippodrome in the heart of the action provides strong and rare emotions especially if you bet on a horse whose performance you believe in. A bet, however small, is a way to “momentarily appropriate” a horse and feel the same emotions than those of an owner who is expecting the best from his “colt” and is excitedly following its performance: a few lengths away from the arrival, everything can change again and victory is played in the final strides. If the horse wins, the joy is in the climax, and you experience incomparable moments, especially if you’re with friends or family.
©André Viguier
Ideal place for a great day out for the family
A day at the Hippodrome Côte d’Azur begins with the visit of the boxes where the lads are preparing the champions. The contenders for victory are then presented in the “presentation round” to see the horses from up close before the race and select your favorite “first hand”.
Sunday, January 10th will be a great game day also for children who will benefit from specially provided and free entertainment: ponies rides, inflatables games, sulky bikes and wooden games, a novelty in 2016 that will delight all children.
Three panoramic restaurants allow to live the show while enjoying gourmet pleasure: the gastronomic restaurant Le Pesage (carte or menu at 49 €), the brasserie Le Paddock (carte or menu at 35 €) and the cafeteria.
©André Viguier
Horses pampered like in a 4-star
As the cold settled in Paris, owners, trainers and jockeys are happy to be at the Hippodrome Côte d’Azur. Each year the hippodrome in Cagnes-sur-Mer is full for the Winter Meeting: its facilities host 450 horses and 150 coaches or lads, making a big fuss of the champions. Each horse is out every day for an hour and a half drive that prepares them to 10 unique meetings of obstacle, as during that period, other racecourses in France do not give race. If a horse gets sick, a veterinary clinic nearby can act very quickly.
Hippodrome Côte d’Azur
Cagnes-sur-Mer
Information: +33 4 92 02 44 44
Admission: € 4.50 – Free under 18
Free parking
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