Horse racing: bet now on the Prix d’Amérique

French racing is entering a new era. Starting this Thursday, punters can place bets on the Prix d’Amérique, which will be contested in over twelve (!) Weeks. This possibility, comparable to the practices of bookmakers, constitutes the main novelty in the partnership signed for three years between the Trot, the company organizing the race, and the online betting operator Zeturf. But, unlike what is done across the Channel in particular where the odds are fixed for equestrianism, as for sport, the principle of mutual betting will be retained. “It will be a French-style ante post,” says Emmanuel de Rohan Chabot, CEO of Zeturf. We are in total agreement with the national law which imposes the mutual. At no time was the desire to offer fixed prices formulated, as this would be dangerous for the industry as a whole. One has only to see the devastation that this mode of betting has caused in our Italian, Belgian and German neighbors. The riders will therefore continue to play against each other, and not against an operator.

A betting session between each qualifying race

The partnership between Le Trot and PMU’s main digital competitor does not only concern the world’s largest race for trotters, curiously renamed the “Legend Race”. The six qualifying events (Prix de Bretagne, du Bourbonnais, Burgundy, Belgium, Ténor de Baune and Critérium Continental) and the two races, Prix de France and Paris, which served as post-American revenge are included in the system. The failure of the Epiqe Series, which was intended to enhance the sporting aspect of major French races, did not cool the players in this new project. “One can wonder if this will work, concedes the boss of the operator of paris. But the concept proposed by Jean-Pierre Barjon (president of Le Trot) particularly appealed to me. Notably because it is more readable and concentrated over a shorter period than the Epiqe Series. It fills most of the gaps in horse racing betting. As in major sports tournaments, eliminations and qualifications will enliven the experience of punters. “

So far from the Prix d’Amérique, it is impossible to know the name of the 18 champions who will be at the start on January 31 at Paris-Vincennes. For the first betting session (there will be one for each qualifying event), it is therefore a list of 40 trotters likely to compete in the big race, which is submitted to the sagacity of the punters on the zeturf.fr site. At the close of the stakes, which will take place at the start of the Prix de Bretagne (22 November), the odds of your favorite horse will indicate its report if it were to win on the last Sunday in January. The opportunity to touch a “bonus”, especially if you think that Face Time Bourbon will not retain its title. On the other hand, if your favorite does not win, or even is not at the start of the Prix d’Amérique, then your stake is lost. “Not refunding the stakes for non-runners is the only way, within the framework of a mutual bet, to offer more interesting odds for the player than on D-day”, explains Emmanuel de Rohan Chabot.

Over the course of the winter, misforms, physical concerns of champions or the appearance of newcomers, the list offered to riders will be modified, and often reduced, at each session.

“This is not a snub to PMU”

Will French punters adhere to this type of game, which is new for the vast majority of them? “We have no quantified expectations for the volumes of stakes,” assures the betting operator. It is above all a question of accompanying the punters in the climb towards the very big race. Normally, playing a horse is buying it for the duration of a race. Here, it is a question of buying a horse during the meeting. “And therefore to follow with attention all the performances of the champions during their preparation. Everyone is free to reinvest each session in their favorite or in another competitor who will have made a strong impression. “The fault with this type of game, for the players and the operator, is that it blocks the money wagered for a long time. As an operator, the notion of recycling is very important to generate turnover, but the idea is to attract new customers, especially among sports bettors. “

The fact that this new concept is implemented by Zeturf and not by PMU, historical operator and undisputed leader on the horse racing market, may be of concern. “This is not a snub to PMU, defends Emmanuel de Rohan Chabot, whose actions have long irritated his competitor. For Jean-Pierre Barjon, the PMU’s money must go directly to the sector. The sums invested in the implementation of the project and in communication would have been less resources if PMU had been the partner in this operation. We have no desire for antagonism, we just want to promote horse racing. They will follow us if the concept works. “In which case the credibility of Zeturf will be strengthened. And Emmanuel de Rohan Chabot’s idea of ​​offering live betting (betting during the race) would perhaps be studied more carefully. When we tell you that horse racing betting has entered a new era.