Hippodrome de Clairefontaine (Tourgeville)
Racecourse of Deauville-Clairefontaine
The Deauville-Clairefontaine racecourse is located in
Calvados , in the town of Tourgéville. It hosts horse racing , trotting and obstacles.
History
The Duke de Morny created the platter races at Deauville in
1864 . Given the ever increasing importance of these races that take place on
the Deauville-La Touques racecourse , it appears necessary to create in the
heart of the Pays d'Auge , an obstacle course to extend the season. The
Pont-L'Évêque Racing Society was founded at the Broken Cross Racecourse in
Pont-l'Évêque in 1875 . We quickly realize that this racecourse is too far from
Deauville and its layout too limited. The activities of the Pont-L'Évêque
Racing Society are taken over by the Société des courses du Pays d'Auge (SCPA)
in 1924 . This one proposes the creation of a racecourse in Saint-Arnoult .
This project aborts because of the impossibility of purchase of the grounds.
The Society of races of the country of Auge looks for another location, that of
Clairefontaine is chosen.
In 1924 , the city of Deauville buys the land of
Clairefontaine Tourgéville and built the stands, 44 boxes, and rooms of lads.
The municipal racecourse of Deauville with its regional architecture by its
half-timbering will be born: it is the "small Clairefontaine". It is
intended to receive the Society of races of the country of Auge. The racecourse
Clairefontaine was officially inaugurated August 8, 1928 , by the Minister of
Agriculture. From 1928 , flat races are in the spotlight. Fifty flat races and
obstacles take place on seventeen summer meetings. It was not until 1932 that
the trotting meetings joined Clairefontaine. In 1936 , the "little
Clairefontaine" as the name suggests, becomes too small. The SCPA decides
to enlarge the race course. Following the purchase of land on Tourgéville, two
great tracks are created: a flat and a steeple-chase. These tracks are
inaugurated during the summer of 1937 . The races take place there until the
declaration of hostilities of the Second World War in September 1939 .
During the war, the racecourse is of course closed. It
reopens in 1949 with 14 meetings including six with PMU, which figure remains
unchanged until 1995 . It is around 1958 that the race track will return to its
original vocation and that it becomes again an obstacle course where there are
competitions of quality tests like its big steeplechase. The trot is not
forgotten, a big place is reserved for him since three meetings of the meeting
in July are entirely devoted to him. The racecourse of Clairefontaine is
constantly modernizing over time according to the expectations of professionals
and amateurs.
It remains today in the region of the Normandy coast the
only and unique tridisciplinary racecourse. Highlights of the year are the
Grand Deauville Steeplechase, the Great Hurdles Race or the Grand Prix de
Clairefontaine, which closes the season every year. Finally, in 1998 , the
Clairefontaine racecourse celebrates its 70th anniversary. A year later, on
Friday August 13 , 1999 , one runs there his first tierce of obstacle.
Address: Route de Clairefontaine, 14800 Tourgéville, France
Phone: +33 2 31 14 69 00
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