Aidan O'Brien's hopes were dashed in the Group One Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp today by a flash strike by French Tote betting staff which forced the race to be postponed until next Tuesday. O'Brien had entered Bonnard and Hans Anderson in the prestigious Group One Grand Prix de Paris.
Trouble started when employees of the on-course Tote decided on a flash strike over pay after a union meeting before the first race. The French racing authorities were going to hold the fixture without betting, but a large group of punters spilled on to the course itself to protest against the meeting going ahead without the chance to have a bet. Attempts to bus them to off-course bookies failed and racing had to be cancelled, two hours after the scheduled start of the first of the eight races.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
