VERSAILLES, France — The Palace of Versailles offers equestrian sports one of the most attractive venues of the Paris Olympics. On Sunday, riders and horses got a memorable gallop around the sumptuous-looking gardens where the team and individual eventing competition was taking place.
Under a bright sun, about 40,000 fans enjoyed the spectacular setting along the woods, fountains and Grand Canal, the largest basin in the park, for the cross country section of the eventing, one day after the dressage test. The final showjumping section was scheduled on Monday.
''It's a real honor to be on historic grounds,'' U.S. eventing rider Boyd Martin, who rides Fedarman B, said ahead of the cross country. ''Just the beauty of the place, and imaging all the kings and queens racing around here, all dressed up.''
Versailles was once the residence of French royalty, where Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette held lavish banquets.
Another member of the U.S. team, Liz Halliday, who rides Nutcracker, said: ''It's a joy to be able to be here. I think it's beautifully presented and it's a gorgeous course.''
Martin and Halliday came out, respectively, in 17th and 22nd position after the dressage and the cross country, and before the showjumping.
As teams of supporters of all nations were cheering their favorites, French riders received an even more spectacular ovation that could be heard from one side to the other of the Grand Canal.
French rider Stéphane Landois, who rides Chaman Dumontceau, praised ''the great atmosphere.''