Now that quarantine has ended, how to enjoy a day at the races in France

News that the UK will no longer require double-vaccinated people arriving from France to undergo quarantine comes just in time for British-based racegoers keen to enjoy a raft of top-class action at Deauville this month.

And with less than two months until the 100th Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is run at Longchamp, the change in the travel situation between the two countries will make it easier for those planning a trip to Paris on the weekend of October 2-3.

France lifted its requirement for travellers arriving from Britain to quarantine in June and the decision to reciprocate made by the UK government late on Wednesday evening will make it easier for connections of British-trained stars such as Starman, Palace Pier and Lady Bowthorpe, who are all due to make their next start at Deauville.

And Irish racegoers won't be missing out either as they benefit from the Digital Covid Certification or Green Pass across the European Union.

In common with most other establishments in France welcoming more than 50 people, anyone aged 18 or older wishing to enter a racecourse is required to prove they are Covid-free via the Pass Sanitaire or Health Pass.

The French Pass Sanitaire or Health Pass, which grants access to racecoursesCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

Most commonly this is via the French government's TousAntiCovid app on a smart phone, although paper certification is also accepted. As well as at racecourses, the health passes are also needed to enter restaurants, museums and cinemas.

And, after some initial teething problems, the QR codes from British vaccination forms and the NHS app can also now be read in France.

To be granted entry, racegoers must satisfy one of three criteria:

• Be two weeks past the date of their second vaccination (or first in the case of a single-dose vaccine such as Johnson & Johnson)
• Be in possession of proof of a negative PCR test taken in the last 72 hours
• Have a positive antigen test of more than 15 days but less than six months if they have had the virus.

For those that have not completed their vaccination regime, there are numerous free testing sites in Deauville, including one next to the entrance to the racecourse.

Covid testing sites like the one outside Deauville racecourse can be used to gain certification before going racing in FranceCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

The TousAntiCovid app is free to download, while the advice to British visitors for the time being is also to carry a paper version of your vaccination or test results, as well as proof of ID such as a passport, since UK vaccination certification has only very recently been synchronised with Europe's.

The EU-wide system of Digital Covid Certification came into force at the beginning of July meaning travellers from Ireland do not need to complete mandatory hotel quarantine.

It is worth noting that the Irish government require only seven days clearance from the second dose of the Pfizer BioNTech for travel restrictions not to apply, but entry to French cultural and sporting institutions still require 15-day clearance.

The Irish Times tracker has the number of Irish adults over the age of 18 to have received their full vaccination programme at 74.5 per cent.

Tickets are available online or on the gate for all racedays at Deauville this month.

And for those looking ahead to Arc weekend, tickets are also on sale for the first Saturday and Sunday in October for what looks set to be a season-defining race featuring Adayar, Hurricane Lane, Snowfall and Wonderful Tonight to cite just four of the marquee names expected to line up.

Allez France - what's on

Deauville (August 8-29)

This Sunday (August 8) the sprinters take centre stage with Starman, Rohaan, Campanelle and Laws Of Indices all set to run in the Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs.

The Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard - Jacques le Marois (Sunday, August 15), the undoubted highlight of the month and one of Europe's major mile races, is likely to see Palace Pier defend his crown, with potential opponents including Poetic Flare and Alpine Star.

Deauville's picturesque winner's enclosureCredit: Patrick McCann

The following Sunday (August 22), Deauville hosts a Group 1 double-header with the Prix Morny for juveniles and the Prix Jean Romanet, which could pit Lady Bowthorpe against Wonderful Tonight.

Deauville race every Tuesday, Thursday (evening), Saturday and Sunday during the month, while picturesque Clairefontaine on the other side of town hosts a relaxed mixture of Flat and jumps cards in between.

In the provinces

France boasts half of all Europe's racecourses and wherever you are on holiday, the chances are you are not far from the action.

The Loire Valley is particularly rich in both jumping and trotting, and the Trois Glorieuses at Craon at the beginning of September can draw crowds of 20,000 on each of its three days.

Many country courses race only a handful of times a year, with Sundays and bank holidays the main draw. In addition to major meetings at Deauville and Vichy on August 15 (Assumption Day), France Galop lists eight regional meetings from Zonza in Corsica to Granville on the Normandy coast, taking in eclectic jumping delights of Pompadour in the south west.

For a full list of France's racecourses go to https://www.fnch.fr/hippodromes-france

Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (October 2-3)

Whether you are a regular Longchamp pilgrim who broke a long sequence of Arcs when Sottsass triumphed last year in front of just 1,000 people, or you've never seen Europe's greatest middle-distance race in the flesh, 2021 will exert a powerful draw.

The two-day meeting features eight thoroughbred Group 1s, with Saturday's programme as good as any 'normal' big day in the calendar.

Wonderful Tonight triumphed on the Saturday of Arc weekend in 2020 and will be aimed at the main event on a glittering Sunday this year.Credit: Edward Whitaker

In addition to the Arc itself, Sunday is an assault on the senses, with each race more chock-full of big names than the last, and it all happens in the heart of one of the world's great cities.

Tickets range from the relaxed lawn of theJardin de l'Arc to fine dining, with the cheapest tickets for Arc Sunday starting at €25.

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