Vichy Tips and Racecourse Guide
Resort town Vichy has a popular racecourse with flat, jumps and trotting circuits. Racing came to Vichy back in 1875, long before it had become a tourist destination with a casino. Vichy has blossomed as a spa town, built on the legend of its healing waters, but is unfortunately better-known in the history books as being the seat of the Vichy France government from 1940 to 1944 – the part of France allied to Nazi Germany under the leadership of Marshal Philippe Pétain.
Vichy hosts 40 race meetings from May to September. July and August are particularly busy on the flat and many of the top French jockeys shuttle between Vichy and Deauville by private plane in order to stay competitive in the jockeys’ championship. In the third week of July they race on every consecutive weekday, culminating in the Group Three Grand Prix de Vichy. In 2022, $20 million Saudi Cup winner Emblem Road made his European turf debut in the race for new trainer Alessandro Botti, but he was a big flop in behind Riocorvo.
Vichy’s several black type races continue to attract British raiders. In 2012, Baileys Jubilee won the Listed Prix Des Reves D’Or for Mark Johnston ahead of Ed Walker’s Faithfilly. In 2015, Boomshackerlacker won the Listed Prix Jacques de Bremond for George Baker.
Vichy Tips
Vichy Horse Racing Tips Today – 21/07
One bet today – out of the office but will try and do the write-up later!
1.17pm Vichy 1pt win, 0.5pt place Sakharah @ 16-1 (most firms, 18-1 in places)
Vichy Top Trainers (2020)
1. Jean-Pierre Gauvin 16 wins (25%)
2. Christophe Escuder 11 wins (10%)
3. Francis-Henri Graffard 9 wins (47%)
4. Andrea Marcailis 7 wins (26%)
5. Frederic Rossi 7 wins (14%)
Vichy Top Jockeys (2020)
1. Marie Velon 17 wins (22%)
2. Pierre-Charles Boudot 9 wins (22%)
3. Mickael Barzalona 5 wins (12%)
4. Ioritz Mendizibal 5 wins (17%)
5. Aude Duporté 4 wins (29%)
How to get there
Train
Vichy is not on the TGV line, so a slow train from Paris Bercy to Vichy takes just under three hours and costs €50.
Drive
The drive from Calais to Vichy takes seven hours on motorways.
Vichy Top Races
Flat
Group Three Grand Prix de Vichy
Listed Prix Des Reves D’Or
Listed Prix Jacques de Bremond
Listed Frederic De Lagrange
Listed Hubert Baguenault De Puchesse
Listed Prix Madame Jean Couturie
Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles
Vichy Map
Vichy Tips Archives
Vichy Horse Racing Tips Today – 27/09
Race Sharp offers free tips for all meetings at Vichy throughout the year. Sign up to our free tips newsletter for the best prices on our French racing tips. Cedric Boutin isn’t a trainer whose horses I’d be backing very often, but Mehanydream is too tempting...
Vichy Horse Racing Tips Today – 24/08
Race Sharp offers free tips for all meetings at Vichy throughout the year. Sign up to our free tips newsletter for the best prices on our French racing tips. Alain Couetil did us a favour at Vichy earlier this month and I’m very hopeful Jaina Kelle can give...
Vichy Horse Racing Tips Today – 17/08
Race Sharp offers free tips for all meetings at Vichy throughout the year. Sign up to our free tips newsletter for the best prices on our French racing tips. The three-year-old maiden at Vichy (12.20pm) looks a modest enough contest, with warm favourite Chaam...
Vichy Horse Racing Tips Today – 15/08
Race Sharp offers free tips for all meetings at Vichy throughout the year. Sign up to our free tips newsletter for the best prices on our French racing tips. 4.17pm Vichy Miss De La Plata went through the race like a nicely-handicapped horse when...
Vichy Horse Racing Tips Today – 10/08
Alain Couetil has his AQPS team in sparkling form and he can register a seventh bumper winner in three weeks with Incoast at Vichy today (2.45pm). The filly looked greener than most on debut back in April and looked in trouble at the top of the straight, but...
Vichy Horse Racing Tips Today – 05/08
I have two bets at Vichy today and both are well-bred maidens for trainers with a good record at the track. In Race Two, a maiden for juvenile fillies, the 11/4 favourite Lovely Traou Land sets a modest standard to aim at. The eye is drawn to newcomers saddled...
Vichy Horse Racing Tips Today – 30/07
John Wick was far from discredited when fifth in a class 1 at ParisLongchamp a fortnight ago and is a confident selection to shed his maiden tag at Vichy today (12.05pm). His fourth at Compiegne two starts back reads well in the context of this race, and though...
Vichy Horse Racing Tips Today – 27/07
Today’s best bets for Vichy can be seen below. Race Sharp offers free racing tips for all meetings at Vichy throughout the season. 11.45am Vichy - Gangster De Coddes win at EVENS (most firms, 11/10 with William Hill) A triple Graded winner in Italy, he won nicely at...
Vichy Horse Racing Tips Today – 19/07
Day 2 of the Vichy July Festival has been moved to the evening, with the last race taking place at 11.59pm French time. It's a long wait for our bet in that final race on the card, but hopefully Zarak Star will be worth it! Andreas Schutz has been in blistering form...
Vichy Horse Racing Tips Today – 18/07
Not much that appeals on a trappy opening day to Vichy's July Festival, but American Daisy should go well a division of the mile handicap (10.10am). The six year old took an age to get off the mark, but she did so over 1m2f here last September and added further...
