Famous Horse Races - Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe
Race type:
Thoroughbred
Purse: €2,000,000 (as of 2007)
Location: Longchamp Racecourse
- Paris, France
Inaugurated: 1920
Track: Turf, right-handed
Qualification: Open: Colts &
Fillies 3 years old & up
Weight: Weight for age
Website:
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
 The
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat race
for three-year-old and above thoroughbred horses
(excluding geldings). It is run over a distance
of 2,400 metres (approximately 1 mile 4 furlongs)
raced on turf at Longchamp Racecourse, Paris,
France on the first Sunday in October. Often called
"The Arc", it is one of the French racing
season's four Classic races and is the major end-of-season
middle-distance challenge race in Europe. With
a purse of €2,000,000 for the 2007 running,
the race often brings together the winners of
many of the top-class races in England, Ireland,
France and other parts of Europe. The race was
inaugurated in 1920 when it was run in celebration
of the Allies' victory in World War I.
Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe
Each year, thousands of racing fans flock to Longchamp
from all over the world to witness what is generally
considered to be the ultimate test for thoroughbreds.
The PRIX DE L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE visitor's book is
a veritable who's who: Rothschild, Boussac, Plesch,
the Aga Khan, Mme Cino Del Duca, Wildenstein, Mellon,
Robert Sangster, Wertheimer and Mrs Alec Head are
just some of the names that grace its pages.
Down the years, the ARC has been won by a host of
truly great horses: Ribot, Sea Bird, Allez France,
Peintre Célèbre and Dancing Brave
to name but a few.
Aside from providing a magnificent sporting spectacle,
the PRIX DE L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE also plays a major
role in dictating bloodlines. An Arc winner is dearly
sought after at stud, and his progeny will go on
to improve thoroughbred performance from generation
to generation. In terms of fostering future champions,
the PRIX DE L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE has proven to be in
a class of its own.
The LUCIEN BARRIERE PRIX DE L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE also
offers more prize money than any other European
race, more even than the Epsom Derby, with total
spoils of FFR 10.5m (shared between the first five),
6 million of which goes to the winner.On 18 August
1854, the Paris city council authorized the town
Prefect to acquire property in the Bois de Boulogne
where a racetrack could be built in the city's name.
By the terms of the lease, signed in June 1856,
the city of Paris granted the French racing authorities
60 hectares at Longchamp (from 1st July 1856 to
30 June 1906).
The Hippodrome of Longchamp
On 15 December 1856, the State accorded "Société
d'Encouragement" the right to run the "Autumn"
race series hitherto held at the Champs-de-Mars
under the management of Haras.
The first ever race was run at Longchamp on Sunday
27 April 1857 in front of a massive crowd. The Emperor
Napoleon III and his wife Eugénie were present,
having sailed down the Seine on their private yacht
to watch the third race. Until 1930, many Parisians
came to the track down the river on steamboats and
various other vessels, the trip taking around an
hour to the Pont de Suresnes.
The royal couple joined Prince Jerome Bonaparte
and his son Prince Napoleon in the Royal Enclosure
alongside the Prince of Nassau, Prince Murat and
the Duke of Morny, an avid racegoer. Non-aristocratic
members of the upper classes were not permitted
into the Royal enclosure and had to be content with
watching from their barouche carriages on the lawn.
Charabancs, Victoria carriages and paddle boats
all brought Parisians to Longchamp. And they came
as much for a day out as from curiosity for this
new form of entertainment.
The card for the opening day contained five races.
The first horse ever to cross the finishing line
was Eclaireur, in the black and red colors of Auguste
Lupin. A short length behind was Miss Gladiator,
destined, a few years later, to become one of the
most famous brood mares in French racing history
when she foaled the celebrated Gladiator, whose
bronze statue still stands at the main entrance
to the racetrack.
In the late Spring of 1914, Longchamp opened its
doors to the Grand Prix de Paris - at that time
the world's richest race, with prize money totaling
FF 300,000. At the beginning of August, however,
all racecourses were requisitioned for the war effort.
Racing officially began again on 5 May 1919 at Maisons
Laffitte, then again at Longchamp on the 8th.
Since it was first run on 3 October 1920, the Prix
de l'Arc de Triomphe has become the world's foremost
race for three-year-olds and above over the classic
mile and a half distance. It takes place on the
first Sunday in October. The "Arc", as
it is known, is every bit as prestigious as the
English Derby at Epsom or the Kentucky Derby at
Churchill Downs, and equally steeped in tradition,
style and glamour.
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe History
First run on 3 October 1920, the Prix de l'Arc de
Triomphe was a "spin-off" from the Grand
Prix de Paris.
The French racing authorities initially only wanted
to develop racing for thoroughbreds born and bred
in France. The reputation of French horses, however,
quickly spread beyond its borders, and it was eventually
decided to open the Grand Prix de Paris to three-year-olds
from all over the world.
During a committee meeting of 11 January 1862, it
was decided that FF 100,000 would be awarded to
the winning horse: a staggering amount at the time.
With the help of the Duke of Morny, the city of
Paris agreed to contribute FF 50,000, and five different
railway companies FF10,000 apiece. The Grand Prix
de Paris was first run in 1863 in accordance with
the following conditions:
A race for colts and fillies from any country.
To be run on a Sunday.
Over 3,000 m.
The first running of the Grand Prix de Paris on
31 May 1863 with a success that exceeded all expectations.
Thirty years later, in 1893, the Grand Prix de Paris
became the Prix du Conseil Municipal, open to three-year-olds
and older. Thanks to the huge amount of prize money,
the race became extremely successful with foreign
owners. However, as it was a Handicap race, the
Prix du Conseil Municipal could never become a Classic
and was therefore never considered important in
breeding terms.
At a committee meeting on 24 January 1920, attended
by the British ambassador, the Count of Derby, the
French racing authorities decided to create a highly
prestigious international race that would be complementary
to the Grand Prix de Paris.
And so the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe came into being,
its title a tribute to the French soldiers that
served in the Great War. The name was preferred
to another contender, the "Prix de la Victoire".
The "Arc" was created just after the First
World War, which had put paid to so much of France's
best bloodstock. France Galop's decision to found
a classic race was thus both courageous and optimistic.
Since that time, the Arc's reputation has never
ceased to grow, and today the race stands as a glowing
tribute to the many men and women who have worked
tirelessly to promote flat racing in France.
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was first run at Longchamp
racecourse on Sunday 3 October 1920. The first horse
across the line was Comrade, who picked up FF150,000;
second was King's Cross, winning FF18,000, and Pleurs
was third, winning FF10,000.
The Arc has now been run 78 times, always on the
first Sunday in October (with the exception of 1939
and 1940). |
