French racing authorities yesterday played down the threat that one of their top racecourses could be closed down by the Mayor of Paris, saying they did not believe Longchamp would ever be turned into a theme park.

Both Longchamp, home of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and the country's top jumping track Auteuil, are based in the Bois de Boulogne, a huge park on the edge of Paris that suffered extensive tree loss during the freak storm on December 26th.

Mayor Jean Tiberi caused consternation in racing circles by suggesting one of the courses may revert to the town hall to be opened up for general public use.

But Louis Romanet, France-Galop's director of international relations, said: "It's imperative for the world of racing, in France as well as abroad, to maintain the two top sites Longchamp and Auteuil. A constructive dialogue will follow.

Both courses are leased by France-Galop from the Paris town hall and Longchamp's contract must be renegotiated every year.