THE rebirth of Longchamp officially began last Monday when France Galop Chief Executive Thierry Delegue presented the keys to representatives of the mammoth construction company Bouygues outside the track’s main entrance.

Work on the “New Longchamp” will take around 23 months and the racecourse will have a few trial runs before hosting the 2017 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Next year, Europe’s richest turf race will take place at Chantilly and it will be a major logistic challenge for director Mathieu Vincent who looks sure to be up to the task judging by his previous running of France’s most picturesque racecourse. France Galop are investing €131 million in the project which will be financed out of reserves and bank borrowing. At one time, it was thought that Qatar might come up with the odd €50 million but terms could never be agreed.

Gladiateur

The statue of Gladiateur, which dominates the entrance to the Mecca of French racing, has already been removed and safely stored.

Known as the “Avenger of Waterloo” after he landed the Grand Prix de Paris in 1865 when the English Triple Crown also went his way.

A year later Gladiateur won the Ascot Gold Cup and was 40 lengths clear of the runner-up at the post.

All major events have been transferred to other tracks and the French Guineas will now take place over the straight mile at Deauville.

The Poule d’Essai des Poulains et Pouliches will take place at Deauville on May 15th, 2016.

They will be much fairer classics as the draw for the turning mile at Longchamp often had too much of an influence on the result when the races attracted large fields.