Pompadour hosts an engaging six-race programme on Saturday, July 25, featuring a varied mix of flat racing, hurdle contests, steeplechases and cross-country action. The meeting showcases horses of different ages and experience levels across distances ranging from 1,600 metres to an endurance-testing 5,000 metres. With total prize money spread across six competitive races, the card highlights the diversity of French regional racing while providing opportunities for emerging performers and seasoned campaigners alike.
Pompadour racecards 25 July 2026
The afternoon begins with flat racing before shifting into obstacle contests and concludes with the prestigious cross-country event that carries the richest purse of the meeting. Every race presents a different challenge, making the programme an attractive one for racing enthusiasts following France Galop’s summer calendar.
The feature event is the Prix Desproges-Gotteron, scheduled for 6:55 pm. Open to horses aged five years and older, the Class 2 cross-country race covers a demanding 5,000 metres and offers the highest prize fund of the afternoon at €23,000. Seven runners are expected to line up for this endurance test, where stamina, jumping ability and consistency over extended distances will be decisive factors.
Cross-country races remain one of the most distinctive disciplines in French racing, requiring competitors to negotiate a wide variety of natural obstacles while maintaining rhythm over long distances. The Prix Desproges-Gotteron promises to provide a fitting finale to the Pompadour meeting, with experienced specialists expected to produce a fascinating contest in the richest race on the programme. The combination of distance, technical obstacles and quality of the field ensures the race will be the day’s principal attraction.
Proceedings get underway at 4:00 pm with the Prix des Sables, a flat contest over 1,600 metres for horses aged four years and older. Six runners are declared for the €12,000 event, which is expected to produce a closely matched contest. The mile distance often rewards tactical speed and strong finishing ability, making this opening race an intriguing way to begin the afternoon.
Attention then switches to obstacle racing at 4:35 pm with the Prix Marcel Plaine, a Class 4 hurdle contest for four and five-year-old horses over 3,400 metres. Carrying prize money of €16,000, the race has attracted six participants. Young hurdlers aiming to build experience and improve their records will look to make the most of this valuable opportunity in what should be a competitive contest over intermediate hurdles.
The third race, the Prix Claude Vigneau, returns to the flat at 5:10 pm. Open to three and four-year-olds, the Class 4 contest is run over 2,600 metres for a purse of €8,000. With ten runners entered, it boasts the largest field among the flat races on the programme. The longer distance is expected to test stamina, while younger horses seeking to establish themselves will have the chance to produce notable performances.
At 5:45 pm, attention turns to steeplechasing with the Prix Roger Crouzillac, a Class 3 steeplechase for horses aged five years and older. Seven runners are entered for the 4,200-metre contest, which offers €20,000 in prize money. The race combines endurance with accurate jumping, and experienced chasers are expected to play leading roles as they tackle one of the afternoon’s most demanding obstacle events.
The penultimate contest is the Prix Président Henri de Fontrobert, scheduled for 6:20 pm. This Class 4 flat race for horses aged four years and older is run over 1,600 metres with prize money of €7,500. Twelve runners are set to contest the event, making it the largest field of the day. The competitive line-up should create an exciting finish as the horses battle over the familiar mile distance.
The meeting concludes with the prestigious Prix Desproges-Gotteron, bringing together specialist cross-country performers for the afternoon’s richest contest. As the only race with prize money exceeding €20,000, it stands out as the highlight of the programme and provides a fitting climax to a meeting that celebrates several forms of French horse racing.
Saturday’s Pompadour card reflects the breadth of the French racing calendar, featuring flat races, hurdles, steeplechases and cross-country competition within a single afternoon. The varied programme allows horses with different strengths to compete under suitable conditions while giving spectators an opportunity to enjoy multiple racing disciplines.
With competitive field sizes, experienced campaigners, promising younger horses and the prestigious Prix Desproges-Gotteron closing proceedings, Pompadour offers an entertaining day of racing. The six-race fixture underlines the importance of regional race meetings in France, where established performers and developing talent continue to showcase their abilities across a wide range of racing formats.
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