A keen amateur from his youth, Roger Winkel continued his enthusiasm for racing alongside his busy professional life. The former amateur jockey rode for Jean Couétil during the 60s and 70s in between stints at sea for his work on the famous "La France" vessel.

Fascinated by jumps racing, he took out his trainers' permit when he created his restaurant business in France.

He has always had some broodmares but developped his breeding enterprise after selling his business and setting up on an 18-hectare smallholding at Décize in 1997.

He trains with a permit and won a steeplechase at Lignières with Gafette de Marcy in April 2008.

Roger Winkel currently owns 2 AQPS broodmares. Légende Sacré comes from a Bernard Cyprès pedigree and homebred Landalouse is from the family of Tatifly, Jecyfly and Disconea.

Roger Winkel fulfills many roles within the racing institution. A steward with France Galop, he is President of Moulins racecourse since 2003 and was elected to the presidency of Vichy racecourse in spring 2008.