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The equine sector in France, a major component of rural life

With 900,000 horses, 247 racecourses, 7,100 equestrian establishments and much more, the French equine sector is dynamic and growing. It plays a unique part in French agricultural and rural living. It is also a bustling business sector with a wide range of professional activities (veterinarians, blacksmiths, breeders, jockeys, grooms, etc.), making a major contribution to jobs in the agricultural sector. It represented nearly 74,300 direct jobs in 2009, a figure that was up by 7.7% as compared to Year 2008.

A unique, sustainable and solidarity-oriented model, serving the regions

With over 900 national meetings generating PMU betting in 2009, horseraces are a top-level sport in their own right. The betting to which they give rise is a sustainable source of financing. The races organised across France are regulated, in their various disciplines, by two companies: La Société d’Encouragement à l’Elevage du Cheval Français which is in charge of trotting races, and France Galop which is in charge of flat and jump races. Using the financing that comes from PMU-registered betting revenue, the companies pay the competing racers their winnings and divide the premiums up between breeders. They also channel some of this to the Common Racing Fund, which grants subsidies to cover operating expenses and infrastructure to all racing authorities.
This redistribution system, which makes it possible to pool resources for the benefit of all racing authorities, whether local or national, helps sustain the intricate network of racecourses in the regions, as well as a living equine tradition across all of France.

The PMU, serving the equine sector

The PMU, central to the unique system described above, is the leading horserace betting company in Europe. As an economic interest group, the PMU provides 80% of the French equine sector’s financing, hence the importance of maintaining sustainable growth. In 2009, the PMU posted its 12th straight year of growth in turnover, the latter amounting to 9.3 billion euros, up by 0.4% despite a difficult economic environment.