132 HORSE-RACING IN FRANCE 



CHAPTER VIII. 



LA TOUCQUES — VERMOUT FILLE DE l'AIK GLADIATEUR. 



The year 1863, in the history of French horse-racing, 

 should have been ' Hospodar's year ; ' it was, on the 

 contrary, ' La Toucques's year.' 



The most notable fact of the year was undoubtedly 

 the ' international race,' the Grand Prix de Paris, which, 

 after much correspondence between Viscount P. Daru 

 on the part of the wicked Frenchmen (who seem to 

 think ' the better the day the better the deed,' and 

 accordingly do the most important part of their horse- 

 racing on Sundays) and Admiral Eous on the part of 

 the religious English (who seem to prefer such profana- 

 tion of their so-called Sabbath as is least like the 

 profanation acclimatised in other countries), was at last 

 definitively settled as an institution to be first brought 

 into practice (notwithstanding vigorous Christian pro- 

 tests from the most unexpected quarters in England, 

 in sporting newspapers and elsewhere) on Sunday, 

 May 31, 1863. And brought off, accordingly, the race 

 was, with results to be recorded hereafter. The moving 

 spirit in the promotion of this institution is said to have 

 been the Emperor of the French, represented by his 

 ' familiar ' the Duke de Morny (who is regarded as the 

 * creator ' of Deauville). At any rate the ' Grand Prix ' 

 was to be ' an " objet d'art," the gift of his Majesty the 

 Emperor, and 4,000/., given half by the city of Paris 



