Paris

A maximum of 5,000 people will be permitted on course at ParisLongchamp for the Oct. 4 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, France Galop announced on Friday. Paris is once again considered a red zone for coronavirus and an exemption for a larger crowd could not be made. The same restrictions will apply to ParisLongchamp's Oct. 3 card. Access to the racecourse will be restricted to horsepeople (including some owners and breeders) and those required to put on the event. A statement from France Galop read in part, "France Galop...

Along with New York and London, Paris has earned another, more unwelcome renown of late but on the day that most of the rest of France emerge from their doors closed shut by COVID-19, the Bois de Boulogne bears witness to the first major sporting action since mid-March. Such is the tightrope nature of the industry's predicament at present, it was enough to convince President Macron at the 11th hour to allow racing to take place within the "red zone" which is still under strict lockdown. ParisLongchamp has seen its...

When Joe Murphy purchased the 350-acre Stoneleigh Farm 13 years ago, the Lexington businessman admitted the land was mostly for "relaxation," but the operation hit the big time as the breeder of multiple Grade I winner Exaggerator (Curlin) and again when selling that star's half-sister by Medaglia d'Oro for $1.3 million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale last August. Murphy returns to Saratoga next week with a yearling full-sister to Exaggerator who sells as hip 206 through the Warrendale Sales consignment during Tuesday's second session of the auction. Murphy, who owns...