After winning a qualifying race and then finishing third in the grand final at ParisLongchamp in front of 14,000 spectators, Éloi Fevre, an engineering student at UniLaSalle Beauvais, has had a remarkable season in the Grandes Écoles Championship. Here’s a look back at his journey.
On July 14, 2026, in the exceptional setting of the ParisLongchamp Racecourse Garden Party, Éloi Fevre took third place in the grand final of the Grandes Écoles Championship, in front of more than 14,000 spectators. This performance capped off a season already marked by his victory in the qualifying race on May 28. An engineering student at UniLaSalle Beauvais, Éloi successfully balanced his studies with a training regimen worthy of a professional jockey. He tells us about this extraordinary adventure.
A championship unlike any other in the world, reserved for students at the Grandes Écoles
Organized by the Club des Gentlemen-Riders et des Cavalières, in collaboration with France Galop, the Championnat des Grandes Écoles is a horse racing competition reserved for students at member schools of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles and leading universities.
Each year, around forty student riders—skilled in classical horsemanship but complete novices when it comes to racing—take on this unique challenge: to live the experience of a jockey under real-world conditions at legendary racetracks. After a training camp in Chantilly and several months of practice, participants compete in qualifying races leading up to the grand finale, held during the “Jeuxdi by ParisLongchamp.” Racing on this track is a bit like playing tennis on the Philippe Chatrier Court or soccer at the Stade de France.
The horses, provided by AFASEC, are retired racehorses that have been prepared throughout the season by professional stables. It’s a sporting adventure, but also a human one, punctuated by events and opportunities for all participants in the same class to get to know one another.
An exceptional season, from victory in the qualifier to a podium finish in the final
Coming from a background in classical equestrianism, Éloi only discovered race riding this year. It was a demanding learning process, involving waking up at 4 or 5 in the morning to train on the tracks at Avilly-Saint-Léonard before heading to classes in Beauvais.
The hard work paid off. On May 28, riding Arundhati, a retired horse from AFASEC, Éloi won the second qualifying race, the Prix Galorama, in front of nearly 10,000 spectators, and secured his spot in the final.
On July 14, competing against the 11 other finalists, the race didn’t go as planned. “I went into the final feeling a little more pressure, because the stakes and conditions were significantly different. But I didn’t change my routine—neither in the way I ride nor in my preparation,” Éloi says. Despite a difficult start, he kept his cool: “On the home stretch, I started accelerating a little late so that my horse wouldn’t get too exhausted in the heat. He rewarded me by maintaining a steady pace, which allowed me to hold onto third place.”
A third-place finish that he savors with the high standards of a competitor: “I really thought I could be in the running for first place. I’m happy, but of course a little disappointed not to have won.”
Discipline, pushing one’s limits, and career goals: what this adventure has taught him
Beyond the results, this season has had a profound impact on Éloi’s journey. Balancing engineering studies with such a demanding sport requires organization, discipline, and some sacrifices. These are qualities he now applies both in his studies and in his daily life.
His passion for the animal world isn’t limited to the racetrack, either: Éloi is also a member of Vach’Expo, a student association at UniLaSalle that aims to promote livestock farming and participates in cattle shows.
Among his fondest memories, he cites his first race, as well as those mornings when the trainer trusted him to work alongside professional jockeys. These were special moments, right in the heart of a world he particularly loves.
To students who might be hesitant to take the plunge—just as he was last year—his message is clear: “I’d tell them to go for it. It’s a leap forward in terms of our ability to grow and push ourselves, but it also comes with plenty of perks: galas, new connections, and work that has helped me grow a lot.”
What’s next? This season has reaffirmed his career plan: to work in the world of horse racing. “Working with these horses, as well as deepening my knowledge of this field, has really confirmed my choice.”
With a victory in the qualifying round and a podium finish in the final in front of 14,000 spectators, Éloi Fevre delivered one of UniLaSalle Beauvais’s finest performances at the Grandes Écoles Championship. His journey exemplifies what we encourage in our students: passion, discipline, and a drive to push beyond one’s limits, both on the track and in the lecture halls.
Congratulations, Éloi—the entire UniLaSalle community is proud of you. We’ll see you at the racetracks for the next chapter of your adventure!
