To the Prix de Diane Longines: A Historic Social Gathering for European Aristocracy and the Wealthy

I've been attending Paris Men's Fashion Week for nearly 30 years now. While I've visited small racecourses near Paris set up for runway shows, this is my first time attending a proper G1 race, and certainly my first time going to a racecourse dressed up to watch.

Even before departing Japan, I had high expectations and inquired with various sources about the dress code. I was relieved to hear that "French racing has a different, less formal atmosphere than the British style."

For the French event, I headed to Gare du Nord in Paris, dressed in a bespoke Dormeuil suit, Charvet shirt, Turnbull & Asser bow tie, Borsalino hat, Barker Black spectator shoes, and a Longines watch, where a special train awaited.

Chantilly Racecourse is about an hour's train ride from Paris.

The train I boarded was a special service for the gentlemen and ladies attending the day's main event, the Prix de Diane Longines. It evoked the past when horse racing was a centerpiece of high-society entertainment, and the classical ambiance of the journey itself further enhanced the mood. Traveling on a train reminiscent of the Orient Express felt like a journey back to a bygone era.

It was an elegant interlude, sipping champagne in the all-tabled carriage as we headed to our destination.

Upon arriving at the destination station, we boarded horse-drawn carriages to the racecourse.

In Europe, horse racing has long developed as a venue for aristocrats and the wealthy to socialize. Today, the only two events in France that retain that old-world glamour are the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe held in autumn at Longchamp Racecourse (scheduled to be held at Chantilly this year due to renovations) and the Prix de Diane Longines held here at Chantilly.

Consequently, the opening ceremonies were conducted in traditional attire, and a contest to select the most elegant female horse racing fan was held concurrently.

The venue was filled with elegantly dressed mademoiselles and madames in stylish hats and dresses, creating a visually delightful scene.

Now, regarding the races themselves, there were seven in total, and I decided to try my luck in six of them before needing to head back to Paris. I won the first two races, and narrowly lost the third.

The main race, the Prix de Diane Longines, was the fourth race, and I correctly predicted the winner. My strategy was to primarily bet on the win and to bet on both the favorite and a long shot, which paid off handsomely.

As the pleasant buzz of champagne grew, so did the excitement of the venue and my own winning streak.

For the main race, the Prix de Diane Longines, there were many horses running. Upon closer inspection of the race card, I noticed one horse was from America.

I thought it was unusual, and a hunch that "American horses are strong in these situations" also played a role in my win. In the final race, I was narrowly beaten at the finish line, but overall, I ended up with a profit of about 80,000 yen.

Even so, I have virtually no natural talent for gambling. Because of that, I was able to leave the racecourse in a very good mood.

Although it was only for a single day, it was a wonderful experience to immerse myself in a glamorous, different world that is hard to find in Japan.

This event also included a pre-race gala hosted by Longines. At the restaurant next to the Grand Palais in Paris, where the venue was held, I met an art director and an editor from ELLE South Africa. We hit it off, and our conversation flowed as we exchanged information about vintage shopping in Paris, which remains a fond memory.

However, the morning of the following day, just before I was to head to Chantilly Racecourse, I had managed to mess something up.

I had forgotten my favorite Charvet slippers, which I always use when traveling, and intended to buy a new pair at their flagship store on Place Vendôme. But a helpful salesperson recommended other items, and before I knew it, I had splurged.

While I was very satisfied with the items I bought, I couldn't shake the feeling of "what have I done?" as I headed to the racecourse for my lucky wins. It was truly a case of "fortune favors the bold" – or perhaps, given it was a horse race, "human affairs are like a horse's journey" (Saiō ga ba).

There's no doubt that the "Goddess of Luck" (Diane) smiled upon me!