DEAUVILLE, A PASSION FOR HORSES
In 1863, the very first horse race was held on the beach, which was converted into a galloping track for the duration of a tide. The history of Deauville, since the creation of the resort under the Second Empire, is so closely linked to the horse that the town is now naturally considered the equestrian capital of France.
COURSES
Under the impetus of the visionary Duke of Morny, the horse asserted its supremacy in the small town of "Dosville" from the very beginning: once the marshes had been drained, the construction of the Touques racetrack (1864) preceded the building of the church of Saint Augustin. The inauguration of the Clairefontaine racetrack in 1928 further enhanced Deauville's reputation in the horse world.
Today, the La Touques and Clairefontaine racecourses attract the best horses and jockeys in the world who race on more than sixty days, having made Deauville airport the leading French airport for horse transportation. In addition to these two racetracks, the Elie de Brignac auction house hosts the famous yearling sales. In 2010, the Pôle International du Cheval was added to Deauville's equestrian infrastructure.
THE HORSE AT THE CONQUEST OF DEAUVILLE, IN EIGHT KEY DATES
1864 : Creation of the racecourse of La Touques
1899 : Opening of the horse auction house
1907 : Creation of the Polo Club
1928 : Creation of the Clairefontaine racecourse
1983 : Opening of the training center on the La Touques racecourse
2003 : Construction of an all-weather track made of oiled fiberglass sand
2005 : The equine sector in Normandy is labelled as a "Competitiveness Cluster".
2010 : Creation of the International Horse Cluster
EQUESTRIAN SPORTS
Over the years, Deauville's teams have acquired a multidisciplinary know-how in the organization of equestrian events. Polo, show jumping, dressage, jumping, eventing, para-equestrian dressage, horse-ball... And in most disciplines, the city has distinguished itself by offering a world-renowned event. If there is one polo tournament in France, it is the Golden Cup, which closes the world championship in Deauville and features the biggest names in international polo. In addition to this event, there is the Jump'in Deauville for show jumpers, the traditional International Driving Competition for drivers, and the numerous national and international competitions organized at the International Horse Park. Since its opening in 2010, the facility has hosted
in 2010, the International Para-Equestrian Dressage Competition ***, the only equestrian discipline included in the Paralympic Games program; and since 2012, an International Dressage Competition ***. In 2013, the C.S.I.O France for juniors, young riders and children has been installed there.
