The French television channel L'Équipe is set to reintroduce horse racing to its screens after nearly nine years on March 21, 2025, with the launch of the new weekly show, À Toute Allure! The show will air every Friday from 8:05 PM to 8:30 PM, promising to provide comprehensive coverage of the sport.
Vincent Broussard, the general director for L'Équipe's television sector, highlighted the motivation behind this new venture: "We wanted to broaden our scope and address the widest possible audience." By situatoing the horse racing segment within the prime time access of L'Équipe de Greg—which regularly attracts around two million viewers each evening—Broussard hopes to smoothly launch the new program.
The centerpiece of the show will include live coverage of the Quinté +, with the race being aired at 8:15 PM. Marc Las, the channel's editorial director, elaborated on the framework of the program: "We’ve compared the scripting of this show to our biathlon coverage. We plan to provide pre-race insights aimed at viewers who may be novices, helping them watch the race with fresh eyes. The show also includes debriefs and magazine segments at the end to educate viewers about the racing world." Educational content will be heavily integrated throughout the show to maximize audience engagement.
At the helm of À Toute Allure! will be Anne-Sophie Bernardi, renowned for her voiceover work on biathlon content for the past eight years, but new to horse racing. "I will pose questions which may seem trivial to experts for the sake of viewers' comprehension," she stated, emphasizing her intent to make horse racing accessible.
Bernardi will be joined by Marine Costabadie, who will serve as the special correspondent reporting from various racetracks. Costabadie comments, “I’m thrilled to reintegrate horse racing back within the sporting universe. The perception surrounding betting is significant, but the sport encompasses every element sought by sports enthusiasts: the thrill, the short race durations, and the engaging characters involved.”
Unlike traditional broadcasts, this new program will not feature odds or betting predictions; instead, the focus will strictly be on the sporting aspects and enjoyment of horse racing. Three specialized commentators from Equidia, including Guillaume Covès and Charly Milpied, will engage the audience with their insights. Milpied promised they will bring passion, which might need careful management from the production side. "I may be uninhibited during the final stretch of the race!" he humorously remarked.
With this revitalized approach, L'Équipe aims to attract both seasoned racing fans and those who may not have been acquainted with the sport before. The program promises to shine the spotlight on the excitement and uniqueness of horse racing, potentially reshaping its image within the public consciousness.
Overall, À Toute Allure! signifies L'Équipe's commitment to enhancing sports coverage and ensuring horse racing regains its rightful place among popular televised sports. The program hopes to create a seamless blend of education and excitement, bringing new life and viewership to France's horse racing traditions.