The first Vichy horse racing meetings, an initiative of Napoleon III designed to entertain the spa town's wealthy clientele, were held in 1875, organised by Baron de Veauce, a horse breeder from the Bourbonnais region.
The race meetings heralded the first infrastructure designed for spa-goers to be built on the Allier's left bank, soon joined by other sporting activities that required large open areas. The racetrack itself was not made until 1895, with Lyon-based architect Henri Despierre building a first fixed grandstand, an entrance portico and a rustic-style summer salon, together with stables and a caretaker's dwelling.
The awarding of a 100,000 franc Grand Prix in 1900, the first of its kind in France, made Vichy a fixture on the calendar of major European horse racing events, attracting the sport's most famous owners and jockeys.
Further modernisation work was carried out in the 1920s, involving the construction of a new Art Deco portico, rebuilding of the betting office, creation of additional boxes, etc. In 1952, the original grandstands were replaced by the current 1,500-seat grandstand (architects Louis Marol and Gaston Leclaire), with a reception area being added in 1995. The Vichy racetrack occupies a total surface area of 53 hectares and hosts some forty meetings a year.
