The international horse racing community is mourning the loss of Louis Romanet, a central figure in the administration of the sport in France and worldwide, who has died at the age of 78.

Romanet spent much of his life shaping the structure and governance of French racing, continuing a remarkable family tradition that spanned a full century. For 100 years, from 1907 to 2007, members of the Romanet family played a leading role in guiding the country’s racing institutions.

That legacy began with the Société d’Encouragement, the body responsible for flat racing in France, where Romanet’s great-uncle Maurice, his grandfather René, and his father Jean each served in leadership roles. Romanet himself would later take on the responsibility of steering the sport into a new era when he became the head of France Galop, the organization created in 1995 to unify the governance of both flat and jump racing in France.

His connection to the sport began early in his career. In 1968, Romanet joined the Société d’Encouragement at a time when computer technology was still in its infancy, helping introduce new systems into the sport’s administration. Over the following years he steadily climbed the ranks and was appointed Managing Director in 1986 after his father, Jean Romanet, stepped down from the role.

Romanet’s influence extended well beyond France. In 1994, when the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) was formed, he became its founding president. He would go on to hold that position for 27 years, remaining in the role until 2021 and helping shape the global framework for racing regulation and cooperation among racing jurisdictions.

Across decades of work in the sport, Romanet earned a reputation as one of racing’s foremost authorities. His expertise stretched across the sporting, economic and regulatory aspects of the industry, and he played an important role in promoting the French racing model on the international stage.

Guillaume de Saint-Seine, President of France Galop, paid tribute to Romanet’s contribution to the sport.

“With the passing of Louis Romanet, the French racing industry loses one of its great figures. Through his commitment, his unparalleled knowledge of our industry and his family’s century-long dedication to the governance of racing, he has left a lasting imprint on the history of France Galop. His vision extended to the international stage through his work with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), which played a key role in showcasing French excellence beyond our borders. Personally, and on behalf of the entire institution and everyone at France Galop, I extend my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”

Romanet retired from France Galop in 2007, bringing to a close not only his own leadership but also a remarkable chapter of family stewardship in French racing.