DELOITTE STUDY: HORSE RACING IN FRANCE REPRESENTS 2,3 BILLIONS OF FRENCH GDP

On the occasion of the 2025 Salon International de l'Agriculture, French horse racing presented a study on its economic and social contribution to the State, carried out by the well-known agency Deloitte. The results demonstrate the strategic and unique importance of the horse racing sector, a real lever for the French economy.

In a document of about ten pages summarising this study, one can find numerous figures on horse racing, racecourses, betting, jobs and training. One of the first figures highlighted in this document is the sector's contribution to French GDP, which amounts to 2.3 billion euros, of which 1.6 billion are direct contributions. Of this 2.3 billion, 49% is collected from the races themselves (organisation and betting), 30% comes from indirect contributions and the rest is provided by breeding, training, sales, owners and the media.

Horse racing betting is the main source of funding for the sector, which receives no public aid, is self-financing and contributes directly to the state budget and generates considerable economic benefits:

Here are some figures in detail

Thanks to horse racing betting, a positive economic impact for France

- 9.6 billion euros in annual bets, including 7.3 billion euros in winnings from bettors,

- 2. 3 billion euros annual contribution to French GDP,

- 951 million euros in tax revenue paid directly to the State.

- Every euro spent by the sector generates 2 .02 euros of economic benefit for France.

A strong territorial rooting, a passion rooted in the territories

Horse racing irrigates the entire territory and has a strong local impact:

- 233 racecourses, including 2 abroad, organise races throughout the year, attracting more than 2 million spectatorseach year ,

- 100% of French regions host horse racing activities.

- 68 departments have at least one racecourse,

- 89 departments are run by breeding or training activities.

A sector that creates and maintains employment in the regions

A major player in the agricultural world, the horse racing industry contributes to maintaining local employment, accessible to all levels of heat and not relocatable, sometimes to isolated areas. It includes:

- 40,000 direct and indirect jobs.

- 14,000 breeders, 6,000 trainers, 2,000 jockeys,

- 14,200 PMU outlets offering horse racing bets, real economic and social centres in towns and villages, receive commissions of up to 150 million euro and also create numerous jobs.

- More than 10,000 voluntary members run the associations responsible for running the racecourses and training centres.