As in 1864, more than 100,000 people poured through the Arc de Triomphe and the Bois de Boulogne on their way to the Hippodrome de Longchamp. And, as in 1864, the winner of the Epsom Derby was again the favorite—only this time the Derby champion was a French horse named Gladiateur. Known as "The Avenger of Waterloo" for his stunning victory on English soil—where he also won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket—Gladiateur had returned to France covered in glory. At Longchamp he did not disappoint the wildly cheering crowds, outpacing his nearest competitor by three lengths. A few days later he was given a victory parade along the Champs-Élysées and his owner, Comte Frédéric de Lagrange, received a standing ovation in the Legislative Assembly. Édouard Manet was not so depressed by his reception at the Salon that he begrudged himself a trip to Longchamp to cheer Gladiateur on to victory. As in 1864, he began a work, Women at the Races, based on his studies of the crowds at Longchamp.
