In the explosion: Christophe Soumillon reacts to the controversial coronation of Maxime Guyon

Paris, July 17, 2025 – The intensity reached its peak this weekend during the Grand Prix des Jockeys, where Maxime Guyon won an exceptional title… despite a rather sordid precedent. Accused of having crashed his own Mercedes into a tree while clearly drunk, Guyon had nevertheless been exonerated on the sporting side. A decision by the horse racing authorities that sent shockwaves through the racing world, and prompted a virulent reaction from his colleague Christophe Soumillon .

A shocking but tolerated accident

The incident had broken a few weeks earlier: police, called to intervene in a wooded area near Chantilly, discovered Guyon’s dented Mercedes wedged against a century-old oak tree. The investigation revealed a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit. Ironically, the man was questioned, apologizing: “I’m sorry,” but no sporting suspension followed—the jockey kept his license. And a few days later, he won a major championship, triggering a media storm.

Soumillon takes up the challenge

It’s disgraceful. The verdict falls like a guillotine. Christophe Soumillon , a respected figure and veteran of the track, has broken his silence to denounce a major injustice: “How can we celebrate a champion who, just yesterday, was driving drunk and putting his life in danger, as well as those of others?” he says fervently. He calls for strong symbolic measures: withdrawal of the title or, at the very least, immediate exclusion from any role as team captain in future events.

His words are: “What we have seen is not simply a mistake, it is an abuse: a man who flouts the civil code and then moves freely and wins. Where is the consistency? Where is the responsibility?”

The captain disembarked, the community divided

In an emergency, the race committee took action: the captain of the national team—a key position shaping race strategies—was dismissed. This was the first time such a move had been made in the history of world horse racing. A victory for advocates of zero tolerance, but also a slap in the face for those who believe that the knight on the track deserves the presumption of innocence until the end of legal sanctions.

Some experts argue that this is a courageous decision: “It was necessary to show that the values ​​of sport come first.” Others, more reserved, insist on the need for a clear legal framework, because “this type of decision, taken under media pressure, risks setting a dangerous precedent.”

And now ?

In the spotlight, Guyon maintains a low profile. He announces a voluntary retirement from competition, promising to work on his personal rehabilitation. Soumillon, for his part, calls for an overhaul of horse racing regulations: sporting reserves for anyone committing an off-track offense, a “clean” morality committee for each opponent, and mandatory road safety training.

Conclusion

Between scandal, redemption, and reform, the world of horse racing is experiencing a moment of reckoning. Christophe Soumillon embodies the voices calling for a more responsible sport; Maxime Guyon symbolizes the fragile line between talent and excess. The organizing committee’s next decisions will be closely scrutinized: will they be able to impose a standard of off-track discipline that matches the rigor demanded on the racecourse?