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The 2011 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will be run today at Longchamps outside Paris. The 1.5 mile turf race annually attracts the best grass runners in the world. Last year’s winner Workforce returns this year to try to repeat his victory. He’ll be challenged by 24 others, including Australia’s So You Think. In all seven Grade 1 races will be run today. .In honor of the Arc, The Jurga Report presents a salute to one of the most glorious forms of the expression of horse in art: French commercials with a horse theme. From Citroen cars to feature horse races to choreographed jockeys, these commercials are great fun, or great filming, or both. Enjoy!

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Here’s a sweet PMU Gallop commercial to promote horse racing (and betting).

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Equine choreography creates the logo for car brand Citroen. How on earth did they do this?

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The point of the PMU Gallop ads is…to laugh. Even at rugby players.

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I always liked this commercial for the 2008 L’Arc. This has been shown on The Jurga Report before.

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Again, the point is: going to the races is more fun and profitable that going to any other sport.

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I get what’s going on here. I’m just not sure what it has to do with selling butter. But that’s ok.

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And PMU doesn’t just gallop, it trots, too![VIDEOSINGLE type=”youtube” keyid=”BraDLh4S-Gg”, width=”560″, height=”344″]

No comedy here, this is sheer poetry, and completely hypnotic.

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Possibly my favorite, and last, PMU ad. I promise.

I hope you enjoyed these commercials. They’re really films, works of art. I collect horse commercials, somewhat unintentionally. And some of the French ones are superb. Some are also a little risque for The Jurga Report, so I encourage you to explore on your own if you want to see some of the commercials that have made French television so famous. I’m just a sucker for those PMU jockeys, and laugh every time.