Olivier Delloye | Horse Racing Free Tips

TDN’s Ten Questions for Olivier Delloye, Now Back at Arqana

After seven years at the helm of France-Galop, the governing body of horse racing in France, Olivier Delloye arrived back at Arqana, and will take up the position of CEO upon the retirement of Eric Hoyeau on April 1.

For Delloye, it's a homecoming, as he served for 10 years as their managing director before leaving to fill the same role at France-Galop in 2016. As Delloye got started again at Arqana, we sat down with him to learn what it was like to be back in Normandy, and what differences the buying and selling public could expect to see this year and beyond.

TDN: First, what's it like to be back?

OD: I'm very happy to be back–both back here and in the sales business and connecting with the community of buyers and vendors alike. And I'm really looking forward to the next sale and of course, the August yearling sale, which is, and has always been, the highlight of the of the year.

TDN: What was the thing you missed the most about this job when you were at France-Galop?

OD: Definitely it was going to farms, inspecting yearlings in spring, meeting with vendors and breeders and driving back to the office thinking that you may have seen the future stars of the sale.

TDN: And what is it about France-Galop that you'll miss the most now that you're back at Arqana?

OD: It's all about people. So probably the great people I have had the chance to work with and who tolerated me for about eight years. Luckily, now that I'm back, I'm finding a great team here as well.

TDN: What is your ideal work-life balance?

OD: It's a very difficult question. I would say it's close to ideal when both your colleagues and clients on one side and your family and friends on the other side feel that you give them enough time and attention. That's when you're close to perfection. But it never happens.

TDN: What changes at Arqana can we expect this year and beyond?

OD: It's a little bit early to ask me that question. I'm just coming back now. But I am coming back at a time when the company is enjoying quite a great success, so there's no need for a big revolution in the very short term. Probably the first changes that will be implemented will be purely internal, in order to make the organization ever more efficient and enable the team to have a greater focus on the horses and the clients. I'm sure there are some areas in which we can improve upon the way we operate, in the processes that are in place, so that really people can focus on their main job and on our clients.

TDN: I see there is some work going on here.

OD: Yes. The first thing, which is good news for all the people attending the sales, is there will be a brand new WiFi system as of the breeze-up sale. Over the next few weeks, another thing we are undergoing is that we are renovating the main yard at Arqana in the sales complex. We are actually currently raising the roofs (on the stalls) of the main yard to just provide some more comfort to horses staying in these boxes during the sales. We will do that in three phases and the first phase will be completed by the summer.

TDN: How did your experience at France-Galop change or broaden your view of the overall industry?

OD: I was born in the horse world as my father was a trainer and then was more involved in the institution and the ruling of racing. And then I went to work for Arqana for 10 years. Going to France-Galop was definitely the right place to go to deal with all aspects of the industry, with France-Galop being the racing authority and the operator of the major racing in France as well. So dealing with gambling with the PMU, dealing with the ministries in charge of supervising racing, dealing with anti-doping control, dealing with riding schools, but also how to run big, big events, like we do at France-Galop with the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Prix Diane Longines and so on. So it was just a perfect place to learn so many things. And, during all those years, I also had the chance to be involved in the IFHA, working alongside with Louis Romanet first and then Winfriend Engelbrecht-Bresges and its leadership team. So it really opened new doors to me as well, being exposed to other racing jurisdictions and understanding the big issues that racing can face on a global scale.

TDN: What did you learn there that you can apply here?

OD: Event organization is something that I probably learned quite a lot about working at France-Galop. But above all, I would say that at France-Galop, because of all it has to run with a fairly limited number of employees-there are only 350 people working full-time. It operates five racecourses, three training centres, and is a racing authority in France. It has to be a pretty well-organized company. So I'm sure that in trying to replicate a bit of that know-how in terms of process and organization in a much smaller company like Arqana, I can help it be even faster and move more quickly and be more efficient.

TDN: Your successor-and predecessor–Eric Hoyeau–was known to take to the microphone. Do you have any intention of doing the same?

OD: You mean at the rostrum? No plan at all. I did ask myself this question years ago when I first worked with Arqana. Now, I'm not sure I have the right talent for the job. And I see my role as just making sure that we have the best people everywhere in the place, to offer the best possible service. So we'll try to, enhance the quality of our auctioneers, to better serve our clients. But, I'm not necessarily one of them.

TDN: Paris or Deauville?

OD: I couldn't answer. It's like choosing between my my sons or my my daughters.

TDN: Le Drakkar, or Le Buddha Bar?

OD: Le Drakkar. Definitely.

TDN: Bike ride in the Bois de Boulogne, or jogging on Les Planches?

OD: Jogging on Les Planches. But also a little further, because it's too short.

TDN: Traffic jam on the Peripherique or tractors blocking the A13?

OD: Traffic jam on the Peripherique. There is always an exit nearby to escape from it.

TDN: Is there anyone in the French government you feel you resemble?

OD: I've often heard people say I look a little bit like Emmanuel Macron. And I've always answered that my wife is much younger.

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Olivier Delloye Returns To Arqana as Chairman of the Management Board

Olivier Delloye is set to leave his role as Managing Director of France Galop and return to Arqana as Chairman of the Management Board, where he will succeed Éric Hoyeau, Arqana announced on Friday.

He will be supported by Freddy Powell, currently employed as the Executive Director but who will become the Managing Director, and by the members of the Executive Committee, including Ludovic Cornuel (Bloodstock Director), Arthur Serres (Technical Director), Sylvain Gosselin (Financial Director), Agathe Capdepon (Communication & Marketing Director) and the rest of the teams. Éric Hoyeau will become the Senior Advisor to the Management Committee of Arqana Holding.

Delloye said of his appointment, “I am thrilled and honoured to be joining Arqana once again, a company in which I spent 10 outstanding years before taking up as Managing Director of France Galop.

“I am very excited at the opportunity to work with such a talented and committed team. It is a privilege to rely on individuals of such high standard to develop Arqana further. The company's success reflects that of the breeders, vendors and buyers who have been working year in, year out to produce and select horses to perform at the highest level in France and overseas, on the Flat, over jumps as well as in standardbred racing.

“Arqana has contributed significantly to the international outreach of French racing and breeding and my personal commitment is to build on this momentum in the coming years to make the French racing and breeding industry ever stronger and attractive.”

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Border Issues Rule French Out Of Racing League

Issues surrounding COVID-19 and Brexit have ruled French trainers Philippe Decouz and Edouard Monfort out of the inaugural Racing League competition. The two trainers were due to comprise one of the 12 teams taking part in the six-meeting fixture starting at Newcastle on July 29. Four Newmarket trainers–George Boughey, James Ferguson, William Knight and Stuart Williams–will instead form a replacement side, with jockeys Nicola Currie, Marco Ghiani and Daniel Muscutt their appointed riders.

Olivier Delloye, chief executive officer of France Galop, said, “France Galop is disappointed that Covid and Brexit issues combine this year to mean the planned French team must withdraw from Racing League. However, France Galop strongly supports the initiative and will help secure a high-quality team of French trainers and horses to participate next year in Racing League.”

Jeremy Wray, CEO of Racing League, added, “It is a real shame that the French team can no longer participate in this year's competition due to restrictions and complications relating to Covid-19 and Brexit. However, we look forward to working with France Galop on France's participation next year, which will add a further international flavour to the competition and engage French racing fans with Racing League.”

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IFHA: International Racing Authorities Reflect On The Positives Pandemic Brought, Challenges Ahead

It's no secret the COVID-19 pandemic has proven disruptive and dangerous to the business and sport of horse racing, but some international authorities say some good things have emerged from this unprecedented time.

In the first digital presentation released Monday as part of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) annual conference, a panel of racetrack officials and racing authorities gathered to talk about the challenges and lessons from the pandemic so far. This year's 54th international conference is being conducted virtually for the first time, with conference materials being released gradually over the next two weeks. This year's focus will be on COVID-19 and its impacts on racing. In most years, the IFHA conference is held on the day after the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at the France Galop offices in Paris.

Readers are familiar with the challenges faced by American racetracks starting in March and April, as some had to shut down, close to fans, or delay major races. In other countries, cross-border travel restrictions caused significant headaches even when racing resumed.

Andrew Harding, executive director of racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said that organization was particularly taxed, as racing in Hong Kong relies much more heavily on horse movement than in other countries. It's also a lot more concentrated population of participants, with a much smaller pool of jockeys, stewards and trainers licensed to keep horses running, so Harding and his colleagues knew they had to be as strict as possible with biosecurity measures.

“If one of [the stewards] were to become infected, in normal circumstances they'd all be sitting in the same room together. In one fell swoop, we'd lose all our stewards,” he said, pointing out that would be the end of racing while officials were quarantined.

Hong Kong jockeys were divided into four clusters and had their jockeys' quarters separated to keep riders in bubbles. Stewards were also given separate rooms to minimize the risk of disease spread. Additionally, licensees were required to provide Hong Kong racing officials with a daily log of their temperatures. Jockeys were required to provide officials with an activity schedule so they could be advised what their potential risk for exposure might be, and to provide a guide for contract tracing should a COVID-19 positive occur.

In the United States, many racing fans have become frustrated by what seems like an uneven application of government regulations to different businesses. For a period of time this spring, Santa Anita Park was closed to fans and required jockeys to live on-site to reduce exposure, while crowds of people poured into the Los Angeles County Arboretum across the street. William Derby, chief executive and clerk of course at York Racecourse, told panelists the same is true in England, where he's aware of nearby bars and pubs beginning to bustle while fans are still not permitted at the track. In fact, York had to erect 3.5 kilometers of fencing to keep people away from the racecourse despite it being on public land. Still, Derby pointed out, local and national governments are overwhelmed, dealing with basic safety questions for hospitals and schools, and patience is key.

“Sport takes its place in the queue, despite the fact [racing] is a very important employer; 18,000 jobs in the UK rely on it,” he said.

Still, some good things have come out of the pandemic. Stephen Cook, director of content for IMG Productions, said that as soon as racing fans were barred from coming to the track, his team had to think of ways to recreate the experience for them remotely — including filming horses whenever possible in their stable yards and in workouts to create a sense of familiarity before they headed to the track.

“It's helped us jump probably a couple of years ahead on something we'd be behind on if this hadn't happened,” said Cook.

Of course, racing was one of very few live sports that was able to carry on or return quickly after initial shutdowns in the spring. Olivier Delloye, CEO of France Galop, said that after racing resumed in France, it took just five weeks for handle to regain its 2019 averages. From early June until now, wagering has consistently been up 10 to 20 percent over last year.

“We didn't expect that,” Delloye said. “We were all worried that even if the betting shops would reopen, even if people were opening new digital accounts, people would think of many other things than going to bet on horse racing.”

The panelists are certainly not seeing a cloudless sky ahead, however. Delloye and Derby both worry tremendously about ownership retention, as owners have been hit particularly hard in the wallets by the spring shutdowns. For Cook, questions remain about whether racing will be able to capitalize on its time in the spotlight and turn temporary interest into long-term loyalty once the virus is controlled and other sports return. In the more near term, Harding worries about how many racing authorities can outlast the ongoing disruptions COVID-19 is causing.

'”As hard as it's been in the UK and France, there are some countries where they haven't been able to operate in a manner that's profitable,” he said. “How long that's sustainable is troubling to me. That will have an impact globally.”

Hong Kong has no breeding program of its own, so potential future impacts of the current economic downturn on the international foal crop is another long-term concern.

All in all, Keeneland president-elect Shannon Arvin said she looks to the future with a mixture of realism and optimism, uncertain of what comes next, but hopeful racing's new lessons will carry it through.

“We don't know how long this will last,” she said. “Somebody asked me this morning, 'Will we have fans back in April?' I don't know the answer to that.

“I think there are definitely silver linings to the pandemic, and I think we need to keep looking for them. I think the perseverance that so many in our industry have shown and that resiliency is shining through ad showing us the silver linings. Winston Churchill said, 'Never let a good crisis go to waste.' I think about how the Keeneland sales actually started, which is during World War II, because we weren't able to ship horses up to New York so we started our own sale. Now of course, that's such a critical part of our business as well as a key piece of the industry and the marketplace. I'm excited to see what innovations come of this.”

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