RACING IN FRANCE 227 



known sportsmen or successful horses — is a handsome 

 stake, which may be worth nearer ^4,000 than 

 ^3,000 ; and the Prix des Acacias, during the same 

 week, also adds up to something considerable. To- 

 wards the end of May the Prix de Diane (French 

 Oaks) takes place at Chantilly, followed a week later 

 by the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) ; and be- 

 tween the two is a handsome stake, the Prix La 

 Rochette (third year), for four-year-olds, run over a 

 distance of 2f miles, which yields to the winner 

 something like ^1,600. 



It may here be noted that the Grand Steeple 

 Chase de Paris is by far the richest race run for 

 anywhere over jumps. In 1897 Solitaire's success 

 was rewarded by ^5,108, and the hurdle race during 

 the same week, won by the English son of St. Simon, 

 Soliman, was worth £2,^']\. The Grand Prix takes 

 place early in June, almost always — but not invariably, 

 1898 being an exception — on the Sunday before the 

 Ascot Meeting. 



Provincial racing is carried on at various places, 

 but there are few stakes of importance during the 

 early part of the year, though things improve in this 

 respect later on, and there is good sport on occasions 

 at Caen, Boulogne, and notably at Deauville, where 

 the Grand Prix for three-year-olds and upwards, run 

 over a distance of one mile four and a-half furloncrs. is 

 worth nearer ^2,000 than ^1,000. 



Of course the two-year-olds are busily employed 



Q 2 



