I know the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe takes place the first weekend in October. We'll be in Paris October 19-24 and would like to spend an afternoon at the races if possible. I haven't found much online and am hoping someone can provide more information.

Hi, I found some information on the internet and I hope you'll find it useful. Here's the link: http://sportsfanexplorer.com/horse-r...c-de-triomphe/. Also, they included there a breakdown of the event's itinerary. Wish this would help you.

Scootoir,

The King of race tracks in France is Longchamp, in the Bois de Boulogne on the western edge of Paris. Horse racing at Longchamp is every bit as much a social event as a sports event. It's a place to see and be seen, not so much in the area where most of the bettors stay, but in the posh areas where the owners and swells stroll around. It's a great place to spend some time, even for non-racing fans.

There will be racing at Longchamp race course on Oct 23, during the daytime. In the Paris area, there's also regularly scheduled races at Auteuil and Vincennes (trotters at Vincennes), but they don't have nearly the cachet that Longchamp has.

Info is at http://www.lescourseshippiques.com/c...rot-galop.html, in French only.

Don
Owner ... Don Topaz Travel

Thank you both. We'll be looking into options to head to the races.

YOu might check out Our Paris Forum.One of the membersa and her husband follow racing in Paris closerrly. As they live in the UK they can go as often as the horses run!You can read without joining but it is a great bunch who have scads of hints especially for the Paris area

Going for the Arc is a real hoot - but not inexpensive.

Download info in advance on how to bet - since no one will have patience if you get to the window and don't know what you're doing.

Don;texpect it to be anything like the Kentucky Derby.

Besides Longchamps we have also been to Chantilly and Maisons Lafitte. The latter two are within easy reach of Paris by train.

Here's the schedule of racing in France from October 19 through the 24th:

19 Deauville (P) Lyon-Parilly (T) Reims (T)
20 Marseille Borély (T) Deauville (P) Enghien (T)
21 Clairefontaine(P)Auteuil(O)Pornichet-LaBaule(P)
Vincennes (T)
22 Caen(T)Enghien(O)LeCroisé-Laroche(P)
23 Argentan (P/O) Longchamp (P) Strasbourg (T)
24 Maisons-Laffitte (P) Enghien (T) Cabourg (T)

If you want more information about French racing I suggest you go to the website of the organization in charge: www.france-galop.com

There is a Union Jack icon for the English translation. Click on "Attend the Races." You'll find various links that will provide you with useful information about a day at the races, including the racing "Calendar" for 2011. Yes, there is racing at Longchamp on October 23, the Sunday. The major European racing season culminates at Longchamp with the two-day October 1-2 weekend featuring the Arc on that Sunday. You'll miss that, but you'll also miss the 40,000 people who'll be there that Sunday. I've gone to Longchamp on sunny Sundays in May, and the crowd tops out at around 17,000 to 19,000 — very manageable. The race course, the paddock, and grounds are lovely, very nice for families, including the infield where there is betting. As for betting, you can always find a mutuel clerk who speaks English and can help you with your wagers. If France-Galop still has its free Sundays promotions in October, you can get in free, including free betting programs. Enjoy.

Chantilly would be my first choice but looks like they have no races during our stay so Longchamp is our option. Thanks all!