Horse racing at Chantilly with the beautiful chateau in the background
SOLARIO RACING owners have just returned from a fabulous long week end in Chantilly which saw them take in top quality French racing, a wonderful visit to Amy Murphy’s fabulous stables at Lamorlaye and of course plenty of opportunities to sample French food and wine!
Twelve of us set off last Thursday on 1st May via Eurostar in glorious weather and after an effortless two and a half hour journey to Gare du Nord, we then enjoyed another equally painless overland rail journey of less than half an hour to Chantilly-Gouvieux. Naturally, the Crémant flowed as we passed under La Manche!
The party were staying at two hotels in Chantilly, both of which were within walking distance of the local station. After freshening up, we all met up at the Best Western Hotel Plus Parc du Chantilly, where most of the party were staying for pre-dinner drinks before enjoying a fabulous French meal at Restaurant Le Cob within the hotel. It was the perfect end to a perfect start of our stay in Chantilly, the home of French flat racing.
Owners raise a toast at Chantilly races
The following day saw fabulous sunshine and temperatures in the mid to high 20s as 18 of us wined and dined in the Panoramic Restaurant at Chantilly Racecourse, which like the station, was within walking distance of the hotels.
The Solario Racing numbers had swollen overnight as five others joined us for some fabuous racing at the most beautiful of racecourses and Amy hot-footed it from Newmarket, having been at Tattersalls sales the night before!
The food and wine flowed and in sweltering heat, many developed a penchant for Provence rosé! Yours truly has had better days on the racecourse, in terms of backing winners, athough I did point out to owners, Monsieur Graffard could be a trainer to follow…he had two winners on the card!
Night life in Chantilly!
After meandering our way back to our respective hotels, we all met up at a bar in the middle of town for more sustenance, athough after such a wonderful lunch, it was more libation than gastronomic delight!
The next day, it was a a morning on the gallops at Amy Murphy’s stables at Lamorlaye…when we had a Naming Day for Solario Racing’s latest recruit…more to follow!
