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France Warms Up for Horseracing Highlight

The whole of France's horseracing community will soon be preparing for the highlight of the country's season – the Great Paris Steeplechase.

This event is regularly the subject of widespread attention across France and the rest of Europe owing to the severity of its course and the massive €324,000 (£255,000) purse awaiting the winner.

Racing fans staying in cheap hotels in Paris can find this famous event at the Hippodrome d'Auteuil on May 25th.

In its first incarnation, as the Grand National of France in 1874, this race invited horses from all countries to take part and aimed to be the French equivalent of the British Grand National.

Since then, it has gone through a number of changes relating to the length of the course and the number of obstacles facing the runners and riders.

For the past 26 years, the race has covered 5,800 metres and included 23 obstacles for participants to negotiate.

Visitors who make it to the event will also be able to enjoy the Defile des Drags, an opening parade of horse-drawn carriages that runs from Foch Avenue to the Hippodrome d'Auteil.

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Updated: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:15:31

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