Australia, Britain, Ireland and France – four nations famed for their penchant for sport and racing in particular … so what better way to bring them all together than a day out at France Galop’s flagship racecourse, the Hippodrome d’Auteuil. This is exactly what ABIE France, in association with the Franco-British Chamber, NetworkIrlande and the France-Canada Chamber of Commerce did on 20 June 2019 and, unsurprisingly, the event was a sell out with over 115 guests present.

After the welcome from Richard Dujardin, President of NetworkIrlande, on behalf of the organising partners, and a word of welcome from France Galop by Vice-President Dr Jean-Pierre Columbu, Guy de Fontaines, Development Manager at France Galop provided guests with a brief history of horse racing in France before introducing the experts who were on hand to teach guests the complexities behind placing the perfect bet.

Guests were able to enjoy lunch while watching the races on the track below. The privatised Restaurant Panoramique boasted unrivalled views not only of the racecourse, but also the Parisian skyline, complete with the Eiffel Tower.

Speaking during the lunch, H.E. Patricia O’Brien, the Ambassador of Ireland to France, complimented the organisers on the annual lunch which has become a fixture of the calendar of the Anglophone business networks in Paris. She noted that the industry behind racing is, for all four countries represented at the lunch, a strong economic link among them, and an important part of the fibre of their economies.

As the lunch drew to a close, Marie-Christine Bilbow, Vice President of the Franco-British Chamber, made concluding remarks and thanked all those involved in the organisation of the event.

Afterwards, lunch guests were offered an exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ tour, allowing them access to the stables, parade ring and weight room.

We would like to thank our co-organisers Franco-British Chamber and NetworkIrlande for their help in making the event a success, as well as partners EY, Eirgrid, Groupe Adequat and Infotel for their valued support and France Galop for its hospitality.

It is safe to say that the annual Luncheon at the Races this year was a resounding success, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back along with some new faces next year!