ONE of the saddest sights in Deauvile this month is to see Chez Hervé boarded up and closed. Racing fanatic Hervé Guillet and his wife Babette decided to call it a day last September. His restaurant was a must for racing folk with its fine family cooking and ambiance which often continued until the early hours.

But there is good news for racing and bloodstock fans as Le Drakkar is thriving and ready for visitors to the Arqana sales.

This popular brasserie is managed by Cyril and Mathieu and they have acquired a respectable quantity of 2007 Chateau White Horse (a translation) for their Irish visitors. Barman Jules is trained to keep open to the early hours during the sales. He also serves an excellent Corsican Rosé.

Le Week-End is terrific value in Deauville, which can be a ridiculously expensive. It is run by Astrid behind the bar and her husband Bruno who is the chef. They have an excellent three-course menu which costs just €23.

There are also crepes (pancakes) with any sort of fillings and buckets of moules (mussels) served with a Normandy crème sauce.

Head FAMILY CELEBRATES

Clairefontaine Racecourse is just a mile down the road from the Deauville track.

Thanks to the president, Doctor Francois Grandcollot and his general secretary Axelle Maitre, there are always initiatives at the track.

Last Monday, the whole programme was dedicated to the Head family. The doyen Alec, who had his 93rd birthday on July 31st, was accompanied by his wife Ghislaine (90 on the special race day) plus three other generations.

All the races had prefixes like Prix 74 ans de Carriere d’Alec Head, and Criquette and Freddy also had races which marked the length of their training careers.