Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers
The Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers is a French non-profit association operating the Hippodrome de l'Isle Briand racecourse in Le Lion d'Angers, hosting 10-13 premium horse racing meetings annually plus the flagship France Sire Anjou-Loire Challenge, and serving spectators, families, betting customers, and corporate event clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersLe Lion d'Angers, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers does
The Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers is a private non-profit association domiciled in Le Lion d'Angers, Maine-et-Loire, France, that owns and operates the Hippodrome de l'Isle Briand within the Parc Départemental de l'Isle Briand. The organization runs a seasonal calendar of 10 to 13 premium horse racing meetings per year, featuring flat, hurdle, steeplechase, and cross-country formats, and serves general public spectators, racing enthusiasts, families, and corporate clients. Its flagship event is the France Sire Anjou-Loire Challenge, positioned as the longest obstacle race in the world at 7,300 meters and serving as a Listed-level stage of the Crystal Cup European cross-country circuit. The association is a member society of France Galop and operates within the broader French horse racing ecosystem alongside PMU (pari-mutuel betting), Equidia (broadcasting), and France Sire (media title sponsor).
Revenue is generated across four streams: race-day admissions (€6 per adult, reduced rates for students and free entry for under-18 and PMU card holders), on-site hospitality through a 220-seat panoramic restaurant and quick-service catering, venue and room rental for corporate seminars and private events (Grand Hall 800m², first floor 230m², second floor restaurant 250m², Petit Hall 190m², VIP loges), and a broad sponsorship portfolio of approximately 15 regional and national partners including Crédit Agricole, Groupama, Dynavena, Champagne Chaudron, and Super U. Online ticketing was launched via Weezevent beginning with the 2024 season, and a joint loyalty card with Hippodrome d'Angers has been introduced to drive repeat attendance across both venues.
The technology stack is traditional and asset-based: physical racecourse infrastructure, a content website, third-party online ticketing, and social media distribution across Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. No proprietary software, mobile app, API, or AI/ML capability was identified. Recent strategic activity has focused on facility modernization (full panoramic restaurant renovation after nearly 30 years), channel digitization (online ticketing), partnership expansion (loyalty card with Angers), and event consolidation (absorbing neighboring track races from Senonnes-Pouancé in 2022 and Sables d'Olonne in 2023). The association is led by President Alain Peltier, with race commissioner and equine welfare ambassador Maxime Peltier and co-president André Martin referenced in organizational communications.
Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers
- Legal name
- Courses du Lion d'Angers
- Website
- https://coursesdulion.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers is a French non-profit association operating the Hippodrome de l'Isle Briand racecourse in Le Lion d'Angers, hosting 10-13 premium horse racing meetings annually plus the flagship France Sire Anjou-Loire Challenge, and serving spectators, families, betting customers, and corporate event clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Horse Racing Venue and Event Services
- NAICS
- Racetracks (711212), Spectator Sports (71121)
- SIC
- Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Racetrack & Race Meeting Operations (MPAEADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Racecourse Hospitality, Sponsorship & On-Track Experiences (MPAEADAM), Training, Stables & Equine Services (MPAEADAI)
Keywords
Where Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Le Lion d'Angers
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Race Day Admissions: Entry fees collected from spectators attending race meetings. Standard adult admission is 6€, with reduced rates for students (2.50€) and free entry for under 18 and PMU card holders.
- On-site Hospitality and Dining: Revenue from the panoramic restaurant, quick-service catering, and special event dining experiences. The restaurant accommodates up to 220 people and offers panoramic views of the race tracks.
- Venue and Room Rental: Rental income from event spaces including Petit Hall (190m²), 1er étage (230m²), 2ème étage restaurant (250m²), Grand Hall (800m²), and VIP loges. Used for seminars, demonstrations, and private events.
- Sponsorships and Partnerships: Partnership arrangements with companies including France Sire (title sponsor of Anjou-Loire Challenge), PMU, Crédit Agricole, and other regional businesses. Includes naming rights, race sponsorships, and promotional partnerships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard adult admission |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | France Sire Anjou-Loire Challenge entry |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Event space rental |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers operates the Hippodrome de l'Isle Briand racecourse, organizing 10-13 premium horse racing meetings annually across flat, hurdle, steeplechase, and cross-country formats. Its flagship offering is the France Sire Anjou-Loire Challenge, the longest obstacle race in the world at 7,300 meters and a key Crystal Cup European cross-country stage. The association also generates revenue through venue and hall rentals for corporate events and seminars, panoramic restaurant hospitality, pony racing events, demonstration days, and themed summer festivals.
Product overview
The Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers operates the Hippodrome du Lion d'Angers (Isle-Briand), a premier horse racing venue in the Pays de la Loire region. The organization offers a portfolio of products and services centered around horse racing events, venue hire, and hospitality. The flagship offering is the France Sire Anjou-Loire Challenge, the world's longest obstacle course race at 7,300 meters, which serves as a key event in the European Crystal Cup cross-country circuit. The venue operates as an event platform offering race meeting management (Premium Galop, PMH Galop, semi-nocturne meetings), professional racing services (interactive maps, weather tracking, obstacle videos), venue rental for corporate events (Grand Hall, seminar spaces, panoramic restaurant), and themed seasonal events like the Estivales du Lion summer series. The organization also provides pony racing competitions, demonstration days for corporate clients, and a cross-venue loyalty card program in partnership with the Hippodrome d'Angers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Anjou-Loire Challenge: The flagship cross-country race event, described as the longest obstacle race in the world at 7300m, held annually during Ascension Day
- France Sire Anjou-Loire Challenge
- Estivales du Lion d'Angers
- Mondial du Lion
Products and services
- France Sire Anjou-Loire Challenge
Quantifiable outcome
- Hosts 10-13 premium race meetings annually with 7-9 races per meeting
Companies that use Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- France SirecoreTitle sponsor of the Anjou-Loire Challenge (France Sire Anjou-Loire Challenge). Provides media coverage and promotional support for the flagship cross-country event described as the longest obstacle race in the world.
- PMU (Pari Mutuel Urbain)coreMain betting partner providing pari-mutuel wagering services during race meetings. PMU card holders receive free admission benefits.
- Equidia RegionscoreRegional broadcasting partner for France Galop/Fédération Anjou-Maine providing race meeting coverage and media distribution.
- Crédit Agricole de l'Anjou et du MaineminorRegional banking partner sponsoring specific races including Prix Crédit Agricole du Lion d'Angers.
- Haras du LionminorLocal horse breeding facility partner, sponsoring stallion-related races and supporting the local equine industry.
- Communauté de Communes des Vallées du Haut-AnjouminorLocal government community supporting the racecourse and associated with the Palio de la Communauté de Communes event.
- OXYGENE RADIOminorLocal radio partner organizing Oxygène Music Live concerts during major race events including the Anjou-Loire Challenge.
- Super U du Pays LionnaisminorLocal supermarket chain partnering on family events including Easter egg hunts and loyalty programs.
- Pigeon TP Loire AnjouminorLocal construction company sponsoring Prix Pigeon TP races at the racecourse.
- DynavenaminorAnimal nutrition company providing sponsor support for horse-related events.
- GroupamaminorInsurance company sponsoring cross-country events including Prix Groupama - Prix Georges Bonsergent.
- Ville du Lion d'AngersminorMunicipal government of Le Lion d'Angers supporting local racing events and tourism.
- Imprimerie BlinminorLocal printing company providing promotional materials and printing services.
- Champagne ChaudronminorChampagne producer providing sponsorships and hospitality for VIP events.
- Les Treilles GourmandesminorLocal food/gourmet producer sponsoring events and providing catering partnerships.
- La Foire d'AngersminorAngers exhibition fair organization with cross-promotional partnerships.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Punchestown Racecourse: Irish festival racecourse and a fellow stop on the Crystal Cup European cross-country circuit alongside the Anjou-Loire Challenge; comparable as a cross-country flagship venue with tourism-driven hospitality revenue.
- Hippodrome de la Côte d'Azur (Cagnes-sur-Mer): French Riviera-based racecourse with a winter obstacle and polytrack program; a comparable multi-format French hippodrome operating a different geography and season, useful for benchmarking venue-rental and hospitality monetization.
- Aintree Racecourse (Jockey Club): UK racecourse famous for the Grand National and home of major cross-country/National Hunt events; comparable because it hosts globally recognized obstacle races and shares the Crystal Cup-adjacent cross-country heritage with Lion d'Angers.
Broad incumbents
- PMU (Pari Mutuel Urbain): The French national pari-mutuel betting operator and core commercial partner of Lion d'Angers; comparable as the dominant distribution channel that monetizes on-track betting handle and powers the racecourse's free-admission mechanic for PMU cardholders.
- France Galop: The national federation governing French flat and obstacle racing; Lion d'Angers operates under its umbrella and through its regional Fédération Anjou-Maine. France Galop sets the regulatory and calendar framework within which the racecourse operates.
Direct peers
- Hippodrome de Vichy: Major French regional racecourse hosting a multi-format calendar of flat and obstacle meetings; comparable in scale, business model (admissions + hospitality + venue rental), and reliance on PMU distribution.
- Société des Courses de Senonnes-Pouancé: Smaller neighboring western-French racecourse that has transferred meetings to Lion d'Angers (2022 drought); a true comparable in format but illustrates the regional consolidation pressure both venues face.
- Hippodrome d'Angers: Direct regional peer operating the other major hippodrome in the Anjou region; already a commercial partner of Lion d'Angers via the joint loyalty card (Carte de Fidélité des Hippodromes Angevins), making it the closest functional and geographic peer.
- Hippodrome d'Auteuil (France Galop): Paris-based obstacle/jump racing venue operated under France Galop; directly comparable because it competes in the same steeplechase/hurdles/cross-country segment and hosts top-tier Listed and Graded obstacle races that mirror Lion d'Angers' Anjou-Loire Challenge positioning.
Others
- Equidia (频道/Equidia Regions): Dedicated French horse-racing TV channel and broadcasting partner that distributes Lion d'Angers' race meetings; included as an ecosystem peer shaping the venue's media reach and sponsor attractiveness.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers social profiles
Digital presenceAssociation des Courses du Lion d'Angers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers 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 Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers
What does Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers do?
The Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers operates the Hippodrome de l'Isle Briand racecourse, organizing 10-13 premium horse racing meetings annually across flat, hurdle, steeplechase, and cross-country formats. Its flagship offering is the France Sire Anjou-Loire Challenge, the longest obstacle race in the world at 7,300 meters and a key Crystal Cup European cross-country stage. The association also generates revenue through venue and hall rentals for corporate events and seminars, panoramic restaurant hospitality, pony racing events, demonstration days, and themed summer festivals.
Is Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers a public or private company?
Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers founded?
Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers based?
Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers is headquartered in Le Lion d'Angers, France, in the Europe region.
How does Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Race Day Admissions are the primary driver. The others are on-site Hospitality and Dining, venue and Room Rental and sponsorships and Partnerships.
Who are Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Punchestown Racecourse, Hippodrome de la Côte d'Azur (Cagnes-sur-Mer) and Aintree Racecourse (Jockey Club). Broad incumbents are PMU (Pari Mutuel Urbain) and France Galop. Direct peers are Hippodrome de Vichy, Société des Courses de Senonnes-Pouancé, Hippodrome d'Angers and Hippodrome d'Auteuil (France Galop). Equidia (频道/Equidia Regions) is listed as an others.
Does Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers.
What industry is Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers in?
Association des Courses du Lion d'Angers's product category is Horse Racing Venue and Event Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAEADAA, Racetrack & Race Meeting Operations, with a secondary code of MPAEADAM, Racecourse Hospitality, Sponsorship & On-Track Experiences. Its NAICS code is 711212 and its SIC code is 7948.