‘Horses in the City’, a new event from France Galop

Friday 5 and Saturday 6 September 2025

‘Horses in the City’, a new event from France Galop

Horse racing comes to the heart of Paris, Place de la Concorde

On 5 and 6 September, racehorses will take over one of the most beautiful squares in the world, La Concorde in Paris, for a unique, free event that is set to become a permanent fixture. Les Chevaux dans la Ville will soon be coming to other cities such as Deauville and Chantilly, which already saw its market transformed into a parade ring on 24 May for the launch of race month.

The Les Chevaux dans la Ville event at La Concorde has been designed as a huge public celebration, open to all and completely free of charge. This event is part of France Galop's strategy to combine sport and entertainment and thus create meeting points between the public and the horse racing industry.

Inspired directly by racecourses, a huge presentation ring, hosting horse parades and jockeys, will occupy the centre of a temporary village. All around, the public will be able to enjoy a wide range of free activities illustrating the full extent of the expertise of this sector of excellence.

This unique event has been made possible thanks to the kind permission of the Paris City Council and the support of all those involved in the sector: GTHP (Groupement Technique des Hippodromes Parisiens), AFASEC, which provides training in racing professions, FNCH (Fédération Nationale des Courses Hippiques) and the association ‘Au-delà des pistes’, which promotes the retraining of horses.

A strategic project to bring the French public closer to horse racing

This ambitious project is a further illustration of France Galop's strategy to attract new audiences by organising original events around race days, as it has been doing since the beginning of the year. Attracted by this original ‘sportainment’ offering, which promises experiences and emotions, the public has responded enthusiastically. The five major racecourses managed by France Galop (Auteuil, Chantilly, Deauville, ParisLongchamp and Saint-Cloud) have seen an 11% increase in attendance at the halfway point of the season, with more than 200,000 visitors.

‘Since the beginning of my term of office, I have had a clear ambition: to put horse racing back in the hearts of the French people. With Les Chevaux dans la Ville, France Galop is taking a new step forward by leaving the racecourse to meet the public in an iconic location, the Place de la Concorde, to share the passion and expertise of our industry in all its diversity,’ "explains Guillaume de Saint-Seine, President of France Galop.

An immersive celebration, free and open to all

Credit: Fred Peltier / Equi*Concept

France Galop, in coordination with the Paris City Council, wanted to offer an event that was accessible to all and completely free of charge.

On site: activities for children, equestrian demonstrations, introductory sessions, demonstrations of former racehorses retrained for other sports organised by the Au-Delà des Pistes association, and the opportunity to meet racing professionals to discover the diversity of careers in the horse industry and the wealth of training available at AFASEC schools, which are dedicated to the world of breeding and racing. It will also be possible to book tickets for upcoming major events scheduled at French racecourses.

‘We have designed a free, fun and immersive event to introduce people to racing in a different way. At the Concorde, everyone will be able to get up close to the horses, try their hand at jockey riding, watch demonstrations and understand the richness of our industry,’ ‘, emphasises Elie Hennau, Managing Director of France Galop.

A prelude to the world's greatest race: the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

This ’Horses in the City" initiative marks a new milestone in the strategy to promote French horse racing.

The event is scheduled to take place one month before the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the world's biggest horse race. This veritable World Cup of horse racing has been ranked the world's top competition five times, a unique achievement. Every year, during the first weekend of October, it attracts the world's best horses and jockeys to ParisLongchamp. The day after ‘Horses in the City’, a big day during which the champions will come to confirm their qualification for the Arc, will take place on Sunday 7 September at ParisLongchamp.

‘Chevaux dans la Ville also marks the start of the countdown to the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. A legendary race, five times voted the world's best, which brings together the best horses and jockeys on the planet at ParisLongchamp,’ said Arnaud de Seyssel, Vice-President of the Comité du Galop and President of the Conseil du Plat.

After the Arc, it's time for the big challenges of the Obstacle programme with the 48H de l'Obstacle at the Hippodrome d'Auteuil on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 November. This rematch of the Grand Steeple-Chase, which took place in May, is also a huge popular festival on the outskirts of Paris. The opportunity to spend a unique day in the vast open spaces of the racecourses, while enjoying the spectacle of horses on the track, is a chance to experience excitement at all speeds!

‘Les Chevaux dans la Ville’ (Horses in the City), an event not to be missed

Children's entertainment, equestrian demonstrations, introductory sessions, meetings with professionals... Les Chevaux dans la Ville promises two days of discovery, excitement and sharing in a prestigious and friendly setting.

📍 Place de la Concorde, Paris

📅 Friday 5 and Saturday 6 September 2025

🎟️ Free admission for all

Source: France Galop