7. Paris-Cannes, 1928

Rachel's newfound fame was no doubt gratifying to her. Newspapers repeatedly referred to her as the "intrepid amazon," "France's leading amazon," "France's most beautiful amazon." However, the publicity also made her a target for people who hoped to capitalize on her celebrity.

In January, 1928 a rival amazon, 35-year-old Marie Féraud, challenged her to a 900-kilometer race from Paris to Cannes. Marie was widowed at 24 and her lawyer husband left her enough money to be financially independent (her mother-in-law later left her a castle as well). She settled in Avermes, 300 kilometers south of Paris where she lived alone with her stable of horses.

When not out riding she spent time with other horse people – trainers, jockeys and owners – in a local cafe or at the racetrack. She enjoyed this male-dominated world and claimed that she "hated the company of women because she hated small talk." Local people regarded her as a bit eccentric because also rode around on a bicycle with a goatskin on her back.

Although an accomplished horsewoman, Marie had not been involved in competitive horseback riding before she issued her challenge to Rachel. Neverthless she was publicly credited with initiating and organizing the Paris-Cannes race.

In fact, though, the race was the brainchild of Armand Massard (1884-1971). Massard competed in the 1920, 1924 and 1928 Olympics as a fencer, winning an individual gold medal in 1920. He was president of the French national Olympic committee from 1933 to 1967 and a board member of the International Olympic Committee from 1946 to 1969.

Massard was also a journalist and at various times he was the editor-in-chief of La Presse, La Liberté and Le Figaro. In 1928 he was first and foremost a newspaper editor looking for novel ways of selling papers and the idea of young women on horseback racing across country over a couple of weeks looked like a winner. As Massard recalled in his memoirs,

"How did I come up with the idea of organizing the Paris-Cannes women's horseback riding race? I believe it was the result of several successful events – all of them aesthetic – at the Bois de Boulogne competitions for ΓÇ£The Most Beautiful Amazon,ΓÇ¥ which I had promoted, always ably assisted by my friend and colleague... Jean Hallaure. Once the idea had been conceived and established, not without meticulous study and consideration of the possibilities and risks, the press picked up on it and we went ahead....

"First, we called in a veterinarian who seemed particularly interested in the publicity aspect.... Among those hired were the daughter of a circus manager, an excellent and graceful horsewoman.... and the well-known Rachel Dorange, who performed everywhere.... Finally, there were other horsewomen whose names escape me today, for which I apologize to any survivors."

But Massard distinctly remembered one of the competitors:

"In fact, the highlight of the commitments was secured by an enigmatic horseman, a certain Viscount d'Alauzier, who brought me the commitment at the last minute. He claimed to have trained a young Hindu woman capable of the most remarkable equestrian feats. He signed her up, assuring me that the Viscountess d'Alauzier and he himself would follow her by car, stage by stage. The name of this phenomenon was [Martha] Gaiatry. She did not speak a word of French, promised the distinguished manager, who insisted on being her interpreter.

"Needless to say, Jean Hallaure and I were a little bewildered and skeptical..."

Hallaure performed as a tightrope walker and clown in the Cirque Molier. He was also an intelligence officer during World War I and was responsible for the arrest of Mata Hari – his former lover – on suspicion of spying for Germany, leading to her conviction for treason and, ultimately, her execution.

Events proved that neither Massard nor Hallaure were as bewildered or as skeptical as Massard pretended. They immediately realized that the Viscount and his mysterious protegée provided exactly the sort of fillip that would help promote the race (and sell newspapers).

The fact that the race was scheduled in February also shows that Massard and Hallaure were primarily interested in filling the sports pages and selling newspapers during the winter doldrums when most outdoor sports came to a halt. The welfare of the competing horses and riders was a minor concern.

The proposed challenge match between Marie Feraud and Rachel was the pretext for the race but it also served as window dressing designed to give the race credibility among true fans of horsemanship – so much so that when Rachel refused to participate Massard and Hallaure feared that the race was over before it started. Nevertheless, "The day of departure arrived, and to our surprise, all the entrants were present " except of course Rachel.

Rachel did not give a public reason for refusing Marie Féraud's challenge, but having already made a name for herself with her Paris-Berlin-Paris ride, she had nothing to gain from the Paris-Cannes race.

Winning the race would add nothing to Rachel's Berlin laurels but losing would diminish her status in relation to Marie. Moreover, Rachel had no experience with this kind of challenge. The Berlin ride was a feat of endurance which did not depend on time or speed, whereas Marie was challenging her to a flat out race. There was also the question of how the demands of such a race, especially in winter, would affect Le Huppé.