Since 1837 the Pompadour Horse-racing Association has organized annual horse racing events during the summer, on the flat and over jumps. The racecourse at Pompadour, rated as 1^st Class for jumps and 2^nd class A on the flat is considered to be one of the most beautiful in France. The cross country events have been particularly popular with professionals as well as the public. Pompadour is also twined with the racecourse of Folkestone since 2007. (for full details please consult the page Jumelage )

     Participation :

The races at Pompadour are of real quality. In fact, many horses pass through this Correzian town on their way to other events in Paris or Pau. Recently we have seen in Pompadour Zaiyad (winner of the Autumn Grand Prix at Auteuil in 2006); Graal de Chalamont (winner of the Presidents Prize at Auteuil in 2000); Magnus (winner of the Autumn Grand Prix at Auteuil in 2001); Empereur River having participated in the Grand National at Aintree, Liverpool in 2003; and Nériette (winner of the Grand Prix at Pau in 2004). Renowned local horses were equally well represented. One has to mention Anatole, the winner of the Grand Cross of Pompadour for the third time. The leading trainers of France such as Guillaume Macaire, Jaques Ortet, Jean-Pierre Totain, and even Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé have taken part in the meetings at Pompadour. Furthermore, the best of French jockeys, the multiple winner of the golden crop Chritophe Pieux; Jacques Ricou, four times golden crop (2005 to 2008); David Cottin and Benoit Gicquel ride regularly on this Correzian racecourse which also sees the racing colours of the most prestigious stables such as those of Wildenstein, Baron Edouard de Rothschild, the brothers Werthheimer, the Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum and Robert Fougedoire ( owner of Al Capone II and El Paso III).

The racecourse as seen from the chateau walls

         Technical Notes :

The whole racecourse site extends over some 30 hectares, with about 2 hectares of track.
The flat track is of sand, about 2000 metres long and  about 12 metres wide, with a home straight of 300 metres. The general sense is clockwise with rails to the right. There are 5 starting posts, at 1200, 1700, 2200, 2400, & 2600 metres, Starts are governed with elastic wire or starting gates depending on the races.
The track for steeplechasing is on grass, and like the sand track it is regularly well watered. The course includes three hurdle race tracks (of 3000, 3400 and 3900 metres), two steeplechases (of 3600 and 4200 metres) and three crosscountry tracks ( two at 4500, and one at 5000 metres).
Below you will find a layout of the racecourse showing the position of the different obstacles, and the various starting posts for the races on the flat.

Hurdle : 1 - 10 - 11 - 17 - 19 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 30
Breton bank : 2 - 4 - 5 - 7
Open ditch : 3 -21
Six barres : 6
Brook : 8
Bull Finch : 9
Trou : 12 - 16
Volpoum : 13
Piano passage de route : 14
Oxer : 15
Trackhenen : 18
Contre haut : 20
Mobil Hedge : 22
Passage de route : 28
Contrebas : 29
Water Jump : 31

A : Starting post at 1.200 meters

B : Starting post at 1.400 meters

C : Starting post at 1.700 meters

D : Starting post at 2.000 meters

E : Starting post at 2.200 meters

F : Starting post at 2.400 meters

G : Starting post at 2.600 meters

            Entrance Fess :

 
            Facilities and Services :

The Racecourse can accommodate up to 1500 spectators in the stand with 1050 sitting down.
Parking is available at the entrance to the course, or in the parking area for the Château. Other parking places are available in the nearby vicinity and details can be found in the section entitled Access and Accommodation and the Map of Pompadour.
There is a panoramic restaurant for spectators on the top floor of the stand (Tel: +335 55 73 33 64 or +336 70 03 63 18), and snack bars and other refreshment facilities can be found nearby.
Several betting outlets for the Pari Mutuel Hippodrome (PMU) are available.
 

           Presidents of the Pompadour Horse-racing Association :

       -  M. Latreille was the first official president, holding the post from 1887 to 1922
       -  M. Laporte : 1923 - 1933
       -  D^r G. Daude : 1934 - 1941
       -  René Parveau : 1942 - 1966
       -  Georges Mazeaud : 1967 - 1982
       -  Pierre Dumond-Saint-Priest : 1983 - 1997
       -  Bernard Lachaud : 1998 - 2003
       -  Francis Delord : 2004 - 2015
       -  François-Xavier Duny : 2016 - to date