| The hippodrome of Maisons-Laffitte, near Paris, is one of the largest equestrian training centers in France, with tracks and stables that accommodate more than 800 horses. In the training arenas—shown here is the Adam arena—the grooms exercise the young horses and prepare them for jumping obstacles before allowing them to run on the practice ground and racetracks. The hippodrome of Maisons-Laffitte hosts more than 250 races each year, featuring a total of over 3,000 competitors. Horse races account for a considerable portion of the gambling industry: more than US$100 billion is bet on racehorses throughout the world each year. |
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