Antoine Du Bois is an emerging artiste who lives in the cotes-D'Armor department on the north-west coast of France in a sleepy place called Lanvallay.Together with his trusty sidekick, monsieur Gagnier, they unfurl the talents of one of their mare's, Fifi who shows real racing potential.Trained under monsieur Gagnier's critical eye, and with help from other consortium members, monsieur Marchand and monsieur Lacroix, in the spring of 1909, they enter her into 'The Grand Steeple-Chases de Paris', France's premier horse race where the novel climaxes in her spectacular victory.