An invitation to visit Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard has always been a memorable experience for a bloodstock enthusiast, considering few nurseries worldwide can claim to have produced as many champions, both on the track and in the breeding shed. French champion sires Asterus (Teddy), Tourbillon (Ksar), Pharis (Pharos), Goya II (Tourbillon) and Djebel (Tourbillon) under the [...]

In a recent conversation with TDN's very own Sue Finley, I realized that we were facing the same, and admittedly awful, conundrum: where will we eat out in Deauville this December? It is an understatement to say that the eating and drinking scene in the Normandy resort has undergone quite a changeover in the last [...]

While torrential rain had poured over Deauville in the last few days, a late summer atmosphere floated around the Arqana sales complex when the first lot made its way through the ring for the October Yearling Sale. In the wake of buoyant renewals of the Tattersalls October Book 1 and Book 2 sessions, the opening [...]

“What is important for a man can only happen in spite of him,” writes Marcel Proust in In Search of Lost Time. This cherished quote sprang to mind after contacting Joelle Mestrallet to ask if she would agree to an interview for the TDN in the wake of the awesome victory of Look De Vega [...]

The one thing guaranteed to get you through a hard day on the sales grind is the promise of a decent meal at the end of it, and in Deauville you will not be short of options. There have been a lot of changes on the gastronomic scene of late, and if you haven't visited [...]

If you are a breeder planning to board one or several mares in France, or an owner planning to race in that country, then the name of Charlotte André is one you might want to become familiar with. France has many well-documented assets, led by increased prize-money in 2022 and lucrative ßbonuses paid to the [...]

NORMANDY, France–The signs had accumulated two years of dust by the time they were taken out again to point towards the farms taking part in France's Route des Etalons. The many stallions who took up stud duties in the northwestern part of the country last year were deprived the chance to show off their credentials [...]

When the gates open for the G1 Hong Kong Vase on Sunday, Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) will be bidding to round off her trainer Alain de Royer Dupré's 49-year career with a 94th Group 1 win. Now pause. And read that sentence again.  Forty-nine years. Ninety-three Group 1 victories. Almost two per season. And a mind-boggling [...]

Guy Pariente is a happy man as we meet in his office, just 10 days ahead of the Arqana August Yearling Sale. He has just been delivered the golden horse statue that symbolises his first title as champion breeder in France, earned in 2020. The award came as a landmark achievement, yet by no means [...]