Idea #588 – Making a harness race on the racecourse of Rambouillet
The racecourse of Rambouillet occupies a 40 hectare site, adjoining the national forest, offering a track of 1800 meters long. Every year, nine meetings of races of trotters, essentially hitched trot, quarrel in Rambouillet. In harness races, the driver sits on a sulky towed by the horse. The horse has to trot as quickly as possible to reach the first one the finishing line, but it should not break into a gallop on no account into a gallop, at the risk of disqualification. The departure is made by the “volte”, the French peculiarity. The competitors have no place attributed in advance, and drivers have to leave in a synchronized way. The principle is to leave perpendicularly to the track, and when drivers consider that all the harnesses are in their place, they command a quarter of tour the horse to dash on the track. The commissioners throw a countdown and assure the regularity of the departure, helped by laser beams. If the beam is prematurely cut, it is a false-departure. In France, the author of a false-departure is sanctioned by the obligation to leave behind a competitor. If he does not run, he is disqualified. In Rambouillet, we have a chance being able to make a video from the track, in pursuit of horses, behind the vehicle of the commissioners.
With our friendly thanks to the President of the Racecourse.
Some Pictures
Where is it ?
Rambouillet Racecourse, Yvelines, France