Hippodrome ParisLongchamp — Attraction in Paris

Arc Sunday at ParisLongchamp — few events on the racing calendar carry the same mix of style, spectacle, and sheer sporting theatre. I was there this year, among the thousands who gathered under the autumn sun, and it was, in many ways, a day to remember. The setting was magnificent: the Paris skyline shimmering in the distance, the grandstand glinting in the light, the soft hum of anticipation that grew into a roar as the world’s finest thoroughbreds thundered down the famous home straight.

From the moment I arrived, the tone was unmistakably Parisian chic. Men in linen suits and polished loafers, women in wide-brimmed hats and tailored dresses, champagne corks popping before noon — it was elegance meets adrenaline. The facilities were impressive too: the bars well-stocked, the food varied and genuinely good, the viewing points excellent from every angle. For once, the weather gods smiled kindly on Paris, bathing the racecourse in warm, golden light that made the whole experience feel almost cinematic.

It wasn’t overcrowded either — a pleasant surprise for such a major international event. There was space to breathe, to stroll, to soak in the atmosphere. The Arc itself — that spine-tingling crescendo of hooves, gasps, and cheers — delivered on every front. For those few minutes, Longchamp felt like the centre of the sporting universe.

But alas, no experience is perfect. The first irritation was a familiar one — the toilets. Or rather, the lack of them. The queues for the ladies’ facilities were astonishingly long — twenty minutes or more at the height of the day. Women missed races, missed bets, and missed much of the occasion. For a venue of such prestige, and on its showcase day, it was an oversight that bordered on embarrassing.

Still, that was minor compared to what came next. The betting. For all the pageantry and polish of the event, the Pari Mutuel Des Courses (PMU) operation was a disgrace. I placed my bet a good ten minutes before one of the feature races, clearly stating “next race” — the horse I backed went on to win. Elation turned to disbelief when I went to collect, only to discover that the cashier had somehow entered the stake for two races ahead. My slip, therefore, was void.

I protested — calmly at first, then with rising frustration as the staff grew defensive and dismissive. I asked to see a manager. I waited. Thirty minutes passed. No one came. Instead, I found myself the target of verbal abuse from the staff behind the counter, who seemed more interested in making me leave than in correcting their own error. Four hundred euros — gone, through no fault of my own.

It was a bitter end to what should have been a perfect day. The thrill of the races, the elegance of the crowd, the beauty of Paris — all soured by one act of negligence and an appalling lack of customer service.

Longchamp on Arc Sunday remains one of the great experiences in world racing — a festival of class and competition like no other. But for me, the memory will forever carry that sting of injustice. One slip of the finger, one shrug of indifference — and a perfect weekend turned into a costly lesson in Parisian...

We have been to many racetracks around the United States. This was quite a beautiful racecourse. We had some challenges at this track with not being able to use the machines due to credit card security. Bets can be placed with agents who walk around in red or green jackets. This was a major concern as agents were still not in position at 20 minutes to post. Be sure to purchase seats. We were able to sit in a Salon and were protected from the wind and cold. There is also a Bar where you can order coffee, beer, wine and Hot dogs. There was only one restaurant that I saw and it looked like you needed a reservation and needed to be dressed well. It was off the track though so you can't see the horses. At other racetracks there are multiple food options. Here you are extremely limited. They could have easily had some Barbeque options or perhaps a bakery. I did see a crepe place when we walked in but it was all the way downstairs and it was cold. In the back they had hot dogs and hamburgers for kids but I didn't come to Paris for a Hot Dog. Either eat before you go or have a hot dog and then eat a nice meal somewhere after. We went on Family Sunday and thought there would be major crowds but there were not. This was disappointing. Its nice to hear people cheering and having...

I strongly recommend staying away from Arc Sunday. Last year was appalling value for money and this years reduction of 10 euros to 65 is still way too expensive. Last year there were wholly insufficient toilet facilities, catering and betting facilities. This year a 15% increase in betting points is supposed to cater for 10,000 additional visitors, an appalling response to last years chaos. The biggest bar in Paris, but where is it? Past the finishing post and all you will see is the horses slowing down, for any serious race goer that just isn't acceptable. The old Longchamp race course was never a beacon of excellence on catering and the provision of toilet facilities, but at least you could get a bet on and buy a beer and at 20 euro's for the last Arc in 2015 at least that was reflected in the price. I suggested last October avoiding the Arc Sunday for the foreseeable future, because your custom isn't valued and this response from France Galop shows they still hold British and Irish racegoers...