A shock to the system as French racing welcomes back crowds at long last

It is strange how quickly the unthinkable becomes normalised.

In Britain there has still been only six weeks of racing behind closed doors while in France it is almost exactly two months.

Yet the overwhelming sensation on arrival at Deauville, ahead of a card packed with leading equine lights, was quite what a shock it was to be confronted by so many people.

The French government announced several weeks ago that this weekend – in effect a four-day holiday for many working people given the July 14 National Day holiday on Tuesday and the inevitable "pont day" in between – would be the moment when outdoor gatherings of up to 5,000 people would be allowed.

In a country where nothing is truly official until it has been written down in exacting detail, the decree spelling out what racing in such circumstances would look like did not appear until Saturday.

France Galop had not taken any chances with a late change of heart and to say publicity for the meeting had been low key would be raising its profile artificially.

But those who love their racing certainly knew the sport's doors were open once again and they came in great and joyful numbers, everyone armed with a mask as per the official instructions.

"It's wonderful, especially for my husband, who has really missed racing during the confinement," said Corinne, who along with her less significant other Stephane had made the 200-mile trip from Orleans specially.

"And it's wonderful for my wife who likes it when I win," came the instant retort from Stephane.

"I follow racing and know a few people inside stables, so I'd heard whispers that this would be the day for several weeks.

"It's been sad to watch racing with no crowds and I don't bet on the internet. I've only done the lottery and the occasional Tierce handicap."

Masks are the order of the day as Deauville reopens its doors to the public for the first time since the coronavirus lockdownCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

Estimating crowds is better left to thin-skinned politicians but despite the inevitable traffic jams on the way up from Paris – even Christophe Soumillon missed his opening ride – the holiday throng must have made big inroads to the headline limit of 5,000, which has to account for racing professionals and track staff as well.

The instruction to stay a metre distant from one another is not easily observed in Deauville's intimate surroundings but the wearing of masks was near universally observed, with no audible complaint on the subject.

It is an absurdly small price to pay for this big stride back towards life as we knew it before "all this". And the Normandy sunshine is a definite help.

Within days maybe it will seem a distant memory that racing ever took place to the sound of tumbleweeds rolling through empty concourses. Now wouldn't that be something?

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