The Longchamp is a horse-racing facility located in Paris, . It has been one of the biggest racing facilities in France for decades now and lies on Seine River’s banks. The racecourse is well known for its interlaced tracks. It is specifically designed for flat racing, although it has a hill that poses a huge challenge to horses in competitions. Its racetracks are about 1000 to 3000 metres. It also has 46 starting posts. The Longchamp belongs to France Galop, and was opened way back in 1857.
This course is known to have hosted a large number of group one competitions in France. It holds up to 50,000 people on any day.
Most popular races held in The Long Champ Racecourse.
The Prixx de l’Arc de Triomphe is usually the most awaited event of the calendar year. It happens on the premier weekend of every October. The best horses all over the globe come here to compete against each other.
Another important date in the calendar of Long Champ Racecourse is the 27th of April, 1857. This is the day when the first race was run there, in the presence of Emperor Napoleon the Third and his wife. The couple is said to have sailed through the Seine River on their yacht in anticipation of the race. In the early 90s, the Parisians sailed on steamboats to the Longchamp just to watch the horses race.
The couple joined Prince Jerome Bonaparte, alongside Prince Napoleon and Prince Nassau in a royal viewing area while watching the races. Non-aristocratic members were not allowed to enter the Royal Enclosure, and had to watch from their the lawn. Several artists have made paintings of the horses racing at the Longchamp. Racing is said to have continued even during the occupation of France by the Germans in the World War 2.