Jullouville horse racesA well-established tradition

Jullouville horse races

See you on 29 May 2025

Since 1886, once a year, the beach of Jullouville is transformed for the duration of a low tide into a marine racecourse. 7 races take place on the foreshore to the delight of locals, enthusiasts and passing tourists. The village set up by the Jullouville horse racing association welcomes more than 3,000 spectators every year. One man has been ensuring that these horse races run smoothly for more than 32 years. He is Claude Legrand, president of the Jullouville horse racing society.

A little history

In 1886, horses raced in the dunes because the first houses were not built until 1906. At that time, the races were attended by up to 6,000 people. People came from Brécey, Villedieu and other towns, in carriages à horse. Claude Legrand, president of the Jullouville horseracing society, told us: “The horses were tied to the pine trees. As proof of this living memory, a street in the town still bears the name of the avenue de la Butte des Courses. tide coefficient of at least 90, with low water around 4.30pm. This timing makes the most of the estran, the wide sandy expanse covered by low tide, which for a few hours becomes a veritable natural racecourse. The quality of the soil varies from year to year. The wind plays a decisive role: if it blows hard the week before the event, the ground is less good and small streams appear on the track. Sometimes the organisers even have to move the finishing post to ensure the safety of horses and jockeys.

A breathtaking view

for all

Spectators, whether on the promenade or directly on the sand, can take advantage of a panoramic view of all the races. There are no following cars for the marshals: they watch the race from a vantage point at the very heart of the track. As for the videographers, they capture the images from the balcony of the SNSM station, offering an unparalleled angle on the departures and arrival of the horses.

Memories

in your head!

Mr Legrand, remembers an anecdote that particularly marked him. One morning at the races, around ten years ago, he received a call from a gentleman in Norman dialect who said to him: C’est ben aujourd’hui les courses à Jullouville? We’re going to go and see, because I’ve never seen horses running in water. A memory that’s both touching and real of the wonder of this extraordinary show.

It's also a moment

a family experience!

The Jullouville horse races are much more than just a sporting event. It is also a festive day to be enjoyed by young and old alike. There are plenty of activities on offer for children, including bouncy castles, pony rides and face painting. There’s something for everyone! The Jullouville horse races offer a unique show, between land and sea, where the trotting of the horses mêle with the noise of the waves and the enthusiastic shouts of the public. Of the 7 trotting races on offer, there is a grand prix, a race reserved for horses aged 5, 6 and 7, and others devoted to youngsters and amateurs. There is also a challenge with the 3 Breton racecourses (Ploubalay, Plouescat and Plestin-les-Grèves) for horses that have won 150,000 euros. Several prizes are up for grabs, including that of Granville Terre et Mer.

Training on the beach

brings a lot to horses

Many of the region’s eacute;curies come every day to train their trotters on the fine sand of Jullouville beach, like Sébastien Pillon who comes regularly with his partner, Alexandra. Cracks have raced on this beach before révéler such as Idéal du Gazeau, Général du Pommeau or Fakir du Loureau by Mickaël Charuel from l’Écurie Lucernaise.