Le Trot
The Société d'encouragement à l'élevage du cheval français, known as Le Trot, is the body governing trotting in France. It is one of the two parent societies of French racing, organising trotting races while France Galop organises flat and jump racing.[1] It issues the code governing trotting races and maintains the stud book of the French Trotter.[2] French trotting is run in two disciplines, harness racing (trot attelé) and mounted trotting (trot monté); in 2025 the programme comprised 11,124 races at 211 racecourses over 1,477 meetings, of which 29 were classified Group 1, 87 Group 2 and 113 Group 3.[3]
The society was founded in Normandy. On 21 October 1864, at the request of the marquis de Croix, breeders met at Caen to establish the Société d'encouragement pour l'amélioration du cheval français de demi-sang, its purpose being to encourage the breeding of the French half-bred saddle horse; Éphrem Houël was among the leading figures in its creation.[4] It was recognised by ministerial order in 1866.[5] The society moved its offices to Paris in 1903, took its present name on 21 February 1949, and in 1962 acquired the Grosbois estate, which became a major training centre. Its racing developed at Vincennes, and it also holds meetings at Cabourg and at Caen, where it was founded.[4]
The division of French racing between two parent societies has been criticised. In 2018 the Cour des comptes described the arrangement as a "double monopoly" whose justification in the general interest it found unproven, and observed that Le Trot and France Galop frequently pursued "non-cooperative" strategies.[1] A report submitted to the Prime Minister by Jean Arthuis on 29 April 2019 proposed restructuring the racing societies and reviewing the prize money they distribute.[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 Cour des comptes (18 June 2018). L'institution des courses (Report) (in French).
- ↑ Le Trot. "Publications" (in French).
- ↑ Le Trot (2026). Bilan d'activité 2025 (PDF) (Report) (in French). Société d'encouragement à l'élevage du cheval français.
- 1 2 Thibault, Guy (12 February 2018). "Société d'encouragement du cheval français (SECF)" (in French). FranceArchives.
- ↑ Le Trot. "LeTROT en quelques mots" (in French).
- ↑ "Rapport de Jean Arthuis sur la filière équine" (in French). Ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Souveraineté alimentaire. 29 April 2019.