FRENCH horses would have had a chance of making their mark at the top level with either Sacred Life or Wootton but both the Criterium International and the Criterium de Saint-Cloud were abandoned after a peaceful demonstration interrupted the afternoon’s racing.

This action was taken by members of Sauvons le Galop who were extremely worried about a cost-cutting project to balance the books at France Galop.

It had already embarked on a scheme to reduce expenses by €10 million but now a further €25 million of housekeeping was needed.

Since 2011 the amount generated by the Pari Mutuel Urbain (off course tote) for racing had been on the decline. The sum, roughly equally split between gallopers and trotters, was €876 million that year but only €796 million in 2016.

BETTING

However, betting has picked up a little this season and in the nine months to the end of September, wagers on the horses, excluding poker and other sports, was better by 2.7% and up by 2.5% when all PMU activities are taken into account.

Turnover in the 13,200 domestic outlets was better by 1.2% and a handsome 14.3% on the international side but that only represents 12.8% of the total.

The cuts concerned mainly premiums on the flat for both owners (€6.8 million) and breeders (€2.5 million) but prize money was reduced by €3.5 million for the better jump races.

These measures were voted unanimously the day after the demonstration which caused the last decent meeting of the flat season to be binned.

It could have been a rash decision by the authorities. The Sauvons le Galop group were not militants but racing professionals worried about the future.