ON Monday, France became the second major European country after Germany to resume racing behind closed doors. For Georges Rimaud, the manager of the French studs for HH Aga Khan, the return of the sport that has played a pivotal role in his life since he graduated from the Irish National Stud Thoroughbred Breeding course in 1980, couldn’t have come soon enough.

“With no racing our horses have no value,” he said from his home at Haras de Bonneval in Normandy, where he has been looking after the breeding interests of HH Aga Khan, one of racing’s most enthusiastic and supportive stakeholders, for the last 20 years. “Racing is where it all starts, where the money comes from. At least in France. Horses need to win races and not just that, they must win valuable races so that they in turn can be valued. If there is no racing, then why breed?