European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 11, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A whereas King a group of fashionable parisians with the arc Detriomphe in the background prepares to join a procession to the Auteuil Racetrack for one of its Spring races. By Peter Mikelbank the Washington Post Auteuil is the most parisian of Parks and you Haven t really seen horse racing until you be seen it there. For a Start it s the most accessible of Paris seven regional tracks. Its 88-acre site in the Bois de Boulogne is Green year round and it offers views of the Eiffel Tower along its Backstretch. It is the Only course with metro tracks leading directly to its Gates and is the Only one exclusively reserved for Pursuit of i obstacle professional Steepl chasing. A plus you Haven t seen racing until you be experienced racing s big week the recently completed la Grande Semaine a four big races wrapping up the Spring season including Auteuil s steeplechase in june and culminating in the grand prix de Paris held at neighbouring Longchamp although it is not As old As Longchamp Quot the Temple of racing Quot since 1857auteuil pronounced of toy nevertheless has its own claim to distinction modern parimutuel betting was introduced there when the track opened in 1873. The Mutual Pool system of betting designed for Richer for poorer for bettor and for purse a has been enticing parisians to Quot the altar of betting Here Ever since. Auteuil is a Paris family tradition and for Many residents provides the first View of a horse that in t carved in Marble or welded to a Carousel. It is also a big event Lor the traditionalists and fashionable who show up for a Day at the races dressed in the style of the non in Miu Riche. There s no better place than Auteuil to see parisians a 00,000 on a single sunday afternoon last june a than when they Are gathered at the rail engaging in that most revered French passion be parimutuel. Asa nation the French out Wager All others to the extent that parimutuel is the c country s third largest Public Servic e Industry a twice As profitable As lotteries and Only slightly smaller than the Post and utilities. On every sunday one of every live frenchmen is a regular player either at the track or in one of 7,000 cafe belting Parlours nationwide. There Are two distinct entrances into Auteuil which might As Well come from different centuries. And do. The More impressive is its Carriage Trail a curving flowered drive off the Bois de Boulogne to ornate Gold tipped Iron Gates. Set jewel like behind its stately entry Broad Brearn coloured pavilions decorated with Bas Relief like frosting on a cake Are reminiscent of Belle Poque Ball gowns. The real action however is by Auteuil s metro entry. There a few shading Trees and even shakier characters generate a 30s feel As cabbies players and news. Vendors peddling any of Paris six daily racing forms mingle amid a scent of tobacco charcoal diesel fuel and wine. Be grand steeplechase de Paris the country s most prestigious jumping event is run the third sunday in Lune and has been says an Auteuil regular Quot since Well Lou hours  it is a popular event carrying More than 11 million bets last year packing the Park and placing Auteuil s regulars Cheek to Cheek with parisian Chic. Auteuil begins with a Choice. You can pay about $1 to stand in the Zelouse infielder Pony up a $4 paddock fee to Perch in the grandstand. Opt for the grandstand. You need the Elevation to appreciate the Chase As Auteuil mixes variable length steeplechase and Haie hurdling races on each Day s card. Bring a pair Olfield glasses Book into one of the to panoramic clubhouses and order drinks while following the pack Over 40 permanent obstacles spread around a course the size of two football Fields. As races Progress each heat takes a different pattern spilling Gau Dily Silken riders and mounts at different Points winnowing the packs As they approach each Challenge. Races at the hippodrome d Auteuil Are scheduled from Early March to Early july and then resume in september when the parisians return from their August holidays and run until Early december for More information Contact Auteuil 45-27-1 2-25, or the Ociele Des steeplechase de France 4b place Abel Gance 02 100 Boulogne France 49-10-20-30