Saint-Cloud Racecourse: A Parisian Equestrian Escape

Located on a plateau overlooking Paris, the Saint-Cloud Racecourse has been a prominent venue for Thoroughbred flat horse racing since 1901. The track is situated on the site of a former estate with origins dating back to the 9th century. In its early years, from 1855 to 1860, Napoleon III gathered plots of land to create a model farm. However, the farm was destroyed during the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. Edmond Blanc, a politician and Thoroughbred owner, purchased the estate in 1898 and established the racecourse.During World War I, the racecourse served as a Canadian Army Medical Corps hospital. The venue also hosted some of the polo events for the 1924 Summer Olympics. The grandstands were rebuilt in the 1950s, and in 1992, the Hippodrome de Saint-Cloud was declared an official Monument Historique.Today, the Saint-Cloud Racecourse is favored by racing professionals due to its exceptional grass track, which can be used from early spring to late autumn. The course is left-handed, relatively flat, and features a long, wide home straight. Key races include the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in late June or early July and the Critérium de Saint-Cloud in November. The racecourse also offers a panoramic restaurant, brasserie, and bars.