Hippodrome de Pau
Hippodrome de Pau is a 1839-founded French nonprofit association operating a dual-site horse racing venue (Pau racetrack plus 90-hectare training center) and year-round events business, hosting 30 race days and 250+ corporate and private events annually for the general public, corporate clients, and equestrian professionals on a ~€4M operating budget.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1839
- HeadquartersPau, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Hippodrome de Pau does
Hippodrome de Pau is a French nonprofit association (association loi 1901) founded in 1839 that operates a dual-site horse racing and events venue in Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Its core operations consist of the Hippodrome du Pont-Long, a 40-hectare racing venue hosting 30 race days and 239 races during the annual Winter Meeting (October to February), and the adjacent Centre d'Entraînement de Pau Sers, a 90-hectare training center with 24 km of tracks, 1,100 horse boxes, and capacity for 500-900 horses. The company was the first French hippodrome to install a Piste en Sable Fibré (PSF) sand fiber track in 1999, fully renovated in 2019, and is recognized as one of the top three gallop training centers in France alongside Chantilly and Maisons-Laffitte.
The business is multi-revenue-stream: race-day operations generate income primarily through PMU betting commissions (race entry is free to the public), while corporate venue rental (Grand Hall 1,000 m², six equipped seminar rooms, outdoor spaces), VIP hospitality (private loges, 320-cover panoramic restaurant), public events (salons, weddings, exhibitions), team-building activities (equi-coaching), and partnership/sponsorship packages (Biraben, Section Paloise, Pau FC) provide the remainder of revenue. Catering is delivered through seven certified partner caterers. Annual operating budget is approximately €4 million supported by 21 permanent employees and an estimated 90,000+ visitors per year across racing and private/corporate events.
The organization is governed by SEPA (Société d'Encouragement des Pyrénées-Atlantiques), presided over by Jean-Louis Foursans-Bourdette and directed by Jean Brouqueyre, with land held by Ville de Pau. Marketing is conducted through Equidia broadcast, local press, radio, and 125+ regional display campaigns, supported by territorial partnerships (IDELIS free shuttle, Pau Commerces, Chambre d'Agriculture). The venue holds the EquuRES Progression label and Fair Play For Planet Level II certification (66.89/100 in 2025), making it the first French hippodrome at that ESG tier.
Hippodrome de Pau firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hippodrome de Pau
- Legal name
- L'Hippodrome de PAU
- Website
- https://hippodrome-pau.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1839
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Hippodrome de Pau is a 1839-founded French nonprofit association operating a dual-site horse racing venue (Pau racetrack plus 90-hectare training center) and year-round events business, hosting 30 race days and 250+ corporate and private events annually for the general public, corporate clients, and equestrian professionals on a ~€4M operating budget.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hippodrome de Pau industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Horse Racing & Event Venue
- NAICS
- Racetracks (711212)
- SIC
- Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Specialty & Historic Venues (Landmarks, Estates) (THAHAAAK)
Keywords
Where Hippodrome de Pau is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pau
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Hippodrome de Pau business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Race Day Admissions and Betting: Revenue from horse racing competitions during the annual Winter Meeting and other race days. Entry is free for all race days, with revenue generated through betting operations (PMU).
- Venue Rental and Event Services: Rental of seminar rooms (6 salons equipped with audiovisual equipment), the Grand Hall (1000 m²), restaurant, and outdoor spaces for corporate events, seminars, weddings, galas, and public events.
- Hospitality and VIP Experiences: VIP loges (Petit Louis and Mississippi), restaurant panoramic (320 covers), private race experiences, team building activities including equi-coaching, and corporate packages.
- Catering Services: On-site catering through 7 referenced caterers (Jardins & Saveurs, Le Gueuleton, La Rumeur, Toques et Gourmandises, Les Ptites Casseroles, Traiteur du Pont-Long, Casa Delicia) for events.
- Partnership and Sponsorship: Partnership packages for the Winter Meeting including visibility on courses, advertising panels, banners, logo placements, and hospitality experiences for corporate sponsors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free entry for all race days |
| Quote-based/ custom | Multi-year contract | Venue rental for corporate events and seminars |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Hippodrome de Pau product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hippodrome de Pau operates a horse racing and event venue (Hippodrome du Pont-Long) that hosts the annual Winter Meeting with 30 race days and 239 races, alongside a 90-hectare racehorse training center (Centre d'Entrainement de Pau Sers). The venue also provides year-round event space rental, corporate seminars, private celebrations, VIP hospitality, and team building activities, leveraging 7,000 m² of indoor space and 5,000 grandstand seats.
Product overview
Hippodrome de Pau operates a multi-faceted horse racing and events venue consisting of the Hippodrome du Pont-Long (main racing venue) and the Centre d'Entrainement de Pau Sers (training center). The core product is horse racing organization with obstacle and flat race tracks. The venue complements its racing operations with event venue rental services (Location de Salles), corporate event packages (Séminaires & Événements d'Entreprise), public event hosting (Salons & Événements Grand Public), VIP hospitality experiences (Hospitalités & Expériences VIP), team building activities (Activités Team Building), and catering services. The facility also hosts the annual Meeting d'Hiver winter racing season as its flagship seasonal offering.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Meeting d'Hiver (Winter Racing Season) Annual horse racing season held at the Hippodrome du Pont-Long from October through February, featuring 30 race days and 239 obstacle and flat races, including flagship events such as the Grand Prix de Pau and Grand Cross de Pau. Open to the general public with free entry.
- Centre d'Entrainement de Pau Sers
- Location de Salles (Event Venue Rental)
- Séminaires & Événements d'Entreprise (Corporate Seminars & Events)
- Salons & Événements Grand Public (Public Events & Exhibitions)
- Hospitalités & Expériences VIP
- Activités Team Building
- Restauration & Traiteurs (Catering Services)
Companies that use Hippodrome de Pau
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Hippodrome de Pau technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Hippodrome de Pau partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BirabencoreMajor partner and sponsor of the Hippodrome, including Grand Prix de Pau Biraben Foie Gras. Provides sponsorship for major events and hospitality experiences.
- Section PaloisecoreRegional rugby club partnership for mutual visibility and community engagement during events.
- PMU (Pari Mutuel Urbain)coreOfficial betting partner for horse racing operations, enabling wagering on races.
- France GalopcoreGoverning body for flat and obstacle racing in France; partner for race programming and regulations.
- FNCH (Fédération Nationale des Courses Hippiques)coreNational federation supporting and regulating French horse racing industry.
- Ville de Pau (City of Pau)coreInstitutional partner providing land ownership (terrains belong to Ville de Pau) and municipal support. New partnership for 2025-2026 to strengthen city center connections.
- EquidiacoreMedia partner broadcasting all races live on TV and internet streaming.
- IDELISminorLocal public transport operator; free shuttle service during Winter Meeting to improve accessibility.
- Chambre d'Agriculture des Pyrénées-AtlantiquesminorTerritorial partnership for events showcasing local agriculture and terroir products.
- Pau CommercesminorPartnership to strengthen connections between city commerce and Hippodrome events.
- Various Caterers (Jardins & Saveurs, Le Gueuleton, La Rumeur, Toques et Gourmandises, Les Ptites Casseroles, Traiteur du Pont-Long, Casa Delicia)core7 referenced caterers providing on-site catering services for events. Selected for quality and eco-responsible approach. Partners for events include Jardins & Saveurs (Traiteurs de France, Qualitraiteur certified) and others with RSE certifications.
- Pau FCminorLocal football club partnership for cross-promotional visibility.
- Elan BéarnaisminorLocal basketball club partnership for community engagement.
- Haras du LionminorHorse breeding and training facility partnership for equestrian industry collaboration.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hippodrome de Pau competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Ascot Racecourse: Premium UK heritage racecourse (Royal Ascot) with elite prestige racing events and high-end hospitality. Comparable as a heritage-brand, event-driven, hospitality-led racing venue in a different geography, useful for benchmarking brand and pricing power for flagship event days.
Broad incumbents
- France Galop: Governing body for flat and obstacle racing in France, which also owns and operates Longchamp, Auteuil (historical), Deauville, and Chantilly. Comparable as the broader institutional incumbent that sets racing calendars, purse structures, broadcast rights, and partnership economics that dictate Pau's competitive context.
Direct peers
- Hippodrome de Chantilly: Top-tier French hippodrome and gallop training center explicitly cited alongside Pau as one of the three leading training hubs in France. Comparable on obstacle and flat racing, training-center operations, heritage prestige events (Prix de Diane), and event rental.
- Hippodrome d'Enghien-Soisy: Trotting-focused venue in the Paris region, operated by Le Trot. Comparable as a French hippodrome-with-events dual model, though oriented toward trotting rather than gallop racing — useful reference for event-rental diversification within a regulated French racing framework.
- Hippodrome de Deauville: Normandy-based racetrack (with Deauville-Clairefontaine) operated under France Galop. Comparable seasonal dual-purpose model — elite summer racing calendar, integrated training ecosystem, and strong hospitality/VIP revenues — situated in a high-tourism destination market.
- Hippodrome de Vichy: Regional French hippodrome running a summer racing season that complements Pau's winter window. Comparable on flat and obstacle racing for regional French tourism, with similar dual-use venue rental and hospitality operations.
- Hippodrome de Cagnes-sur-Mer: French Riviera hippodrome notable for operating one of the few year-round race calendars in France. Comparable on obstacle and flat racing and dual-use event rental, but with the structural advantage of winter racing in a milder climate, partly offsetting Pau's weather exposure.
- Hippodrome de Longchamp (ParisLongchamp): France's flagship flat-racing venue, operated by France Galop in Paris. Directly comparable as a French hippodrome hosting flat and obstacle races with large grandstand capacity, premium hospitality, and dual-use event hosting — but at a significantly larger national-tourism scale than Pau.
- Hippodrome de Bordeaux (Le Bouscat): Regional French hippodrome hosting flat and obstacle racing on a smaller scale. Comparable on standalone racing + corporate event dual model, regional/PMU-driven economics, and a free-to-enter pricing structure.
Others
- Société d'Encouragement pour l'Agriculture et le Cheval (Paris): Equivalent French 'agricultural/equestrian society' associations historically tied to racetracks — useful peers as same legal form (association loi 1901) and same dual-purpose agricultural-sport-cultural mission that Pau's SEPA is built on.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hippodrome de Pau social profiles
Digital presenceHippodrome de Pau compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Hippodrome de Pau financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hippodrome de Pau leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Hippodrome de Pau funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hippodrome de Pau M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hippodrome de Pau
What does Hippodrome de Pau do?
Hippodrome de Pau operates a horse racing and event venue (Hippodrome du Pont-Long) that hosts the annual Winter Meeting with 30 race days and 239 races, alongside a 90-hectare racehorse training center (Centre d'Entrainement de Pau Sers). The venue also provides year-round event space rental, corporate seminars, private celebrations, VIP hospitality, and team building activities, leveraging 7,000 m² of indoor space and 5,000 grandstand seats.
Is Hippodrome de Pau a public or private company?
Hippodrome de Pau is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hippodrome de Pau founded?
Hippodrome de Pau was founded in 1839. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Hippodrome de Pau based?
Hippodrome de Pau is headquartered in Pau, France, in the Europe region.
How does Hippodrome de Pau make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Race Day Admissions and Betting is the primary driver. The others are venue Rental and Event Services, hospitality and VIP Experiences, catering Services and partnership and Sponsorship.
Who are Hippodrome de Pau's main competitors?
Ascot Racecourse is listed as a regional player. France Galop is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Hippodrome de Chantilly, Hippodrome d'Enghien-Soisy, Hippodrome de Deauville, Hippodrome de Vichy, Hippodrome de Cagnes-sur-Mer, Hippodrome de Longchamp (ParisLongchamp) and Hippodrome de Bordeaux (Le Bouscat). Société d'Encouragement pour l'Agriculture et le Cheval (Paris) is listed as an others.
Does Hippodrome de Pau have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hippodrome de Pau.
What industry is Hippodrome de Pau in?
Hippodrome de Pau's product category is Horse Racing & Event Venue. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAAAB, Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues, with a secondary code of THAHAAAK, Specialty & Historic Venues (Landmarks, Estates). Its NAICS code is 711212 and its SIC code is 7948.