On November 1 in Paris: the Auteuil Racecourse opens its gates

In a driving downpour, several thousand spectators make for the Bois de Boulogne this 1 November 1873 to unveil the new Auteuil Hippodrome. Set between the Porte d’Auteuil and the Porte de Passy, the racecourse has just been specially prepared to host hurdle races and steeplechase events.

Its creation was partly a consequence of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Before Auteuil, Parisian hurdle racing was primarily contested on the Gravelle plateau, in the Bois de Vincennes. The facilities suffered greatly from the conflict and from the upheavals of the Commune, prompting organizers to seek a new site.

On February 18, 1873, the City of Paris grants a parcel near the fortifications to the Société des Courses d’obstacles, then chaired by the Prince of Sagan. In just a few months, the new racecourse takes shape. Architect Walter Destailleur designs, in particular, a long metal grandstand of about 75 meters, adorned with lambrequins and flanked by pavilions.

Auteuil immediately sets itself apart from Longchamp, which had opened a few years earlier and was dedicated to flat racing. Here, everything is geared toward jumping: hurdles, fences, ditches, rivers and embankments are meant to test both horse and rider. The steeplechase discipline is still relatively new in France. Brought over from the British Isles, its name traces back to old countryside races run between two landmarks—often church spires—with horses needing to clear the natural obstacles along the route.

Parisian triumph comes fast! On May 25, 1874, Auteuil hosts the inaugural Grand National of France, the forerunner of today’s Grand Steeple-Chase of Paris. Eighteen horses line up over 6,400 metres and 22 obstacles. The winner is the English mare Miss Hungerford.

Over the years, the racecourse has become a genuine institution. Sporting races and high-society sociability mingle there, while artists, in turn, take an interest in this new Parisian theatre. In 1883, the Italian painter Giuseppe De Nittis captured the elegance of the crowd in his painting The Races at Auteuil.

• To be read
• The Auteuil Racecourse: Paris’s premier hub for jump racing and obstacle events
• The 2026 48 Hours of Jump Racing: races and activities celebrating the mountains at Auteuil
• Paris Grand Steeple-Chase 2026: The flagship steeplechase event at Auteuil Racecourse

The facilities evolved considerably thereafter: tracks were altered, obstacles refined, and grandstands rebuilt in the interwar period. Some sections became particularly famous, starting with the Rail Ditch and Fence, an immense obstacle nicknamed the "peacemaker" of the Grand Steeple-Chase. Even today, Auteuil remains the premier French racecourse devoted to jump racing!

Further reading:

The Auteuil Racecourse: Paris’s premier hub for jump racing and obstacle events
A specialist in obstacle racing, the Auteuil Racecourse thrills the 16th arrondissement with steeplechase and hurdle racing. From adrenaline-pumping sport to family-friendly events on the doorstep of the Bois de Boulogne, discover this iconic venue in the capital. [Read more]

Paris Grand Steeple-Chase 2026: The flagship steeplechase event at Auteuil Racecourse
As every year, the Grand Steeple-Chase of Paris is making its grand return on the weekend of May 16th and 17th, 2026, at the Auteuil Racecourse. Featuring activities for the whole family, this iconic horse racing event remains as eagerly anticipated as ever! [Read more]

The 2026 48 Hours of Jump Racing: races and activities celebrating the mountains at Auteuil
The 48 Hours of Obstacle Racing combines horse racing with mountain-themed activities. Laser biathlon, a mechanical surfboard and team challenges round out the sporting program. [Read more]

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