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CCTV Footage Captures Runaway Horse Charging Through Bar

CCTV Footage Captures Runaway Horse Charging Through Bar

Evidently it's less usual for horses to walk into bars in real life than it is in the world of jokes

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

So, you've heard the joke. A horse walks into a bar and the barman asks, 'Why the long face?'

As with most jokes, it relies on the listener taking a small leap of imagination, because as we all know, horses don't walk into bars. Well, not usually.

Last week in a bar in Chantilly, north of Paris, customers were enjoying a refreshing beverage when a massive horse came barging in. Turns out the real life version of the joke is as follows: a horse walks into a bar and everyone runs for their life.

To be fair though, the horse doesn't exactly stroll in as though she's about to order a small house white. Instead the animal dashes in, bucking and kicking over chairs like she's ready for a full-on kick-off. Indeed, the racehorse in the bar is like a bull in a china shop.

The horse's trainer, Jean-Marie Beguigne, said the filly had bolted from the Chantilly Racecourse, about one mile away, after her rider fell off.

Speaking to Ouest France newspaper, Mr Beguigne said: "Between the track and the stables, her rider fell off.

"The filly escaped by going on to the road, and crossing a roundabout before entering this bar. It is all quite exceptional."

Mr Beguigne added that the horse, who he did not name, 'showed no trauma or anxiety' and had a 'penchant for escape'.

Nobody was hurt in the comical incident, which is made all the more peculiar because of the horse's choice of bar - a horse betting bar no less.

Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) bars are spread across the country and have screens and betting systems installed for those who fancy a flutter, although most punters seemed a little too close to the action for their liking on this occasion.

YouTube / Stephane Jasmin

The owner of the Chantilly PMU bar, Stephane Jasmin, shared the CCTV footage on YouTube and said: "She pushed the door open, and raced straight for the betting corner.

"Then the filly turned around, breaking a table and chairs. We've never seen anything like it."

Well we've all been there: you storm in with a gut feeling, you race straight over to the betting counter and put £20 on it, you immediately lose and turn around and break a few tables and chairs.

Anyway, it's good that we can now put to rest the myth of equine-bar-based-banter.

Next week: find out what really happens when a chicken crosses the road.

Featured Image Credit: YouTube / Stephane Jasmin

Topics: Horse Racing, France