Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

History

Origins

The Société d'Encouragement, a former governing body of French racing, had initially restricted its races to thoroughbreds born and bred in France. In 1863, it launched the Grand Prix de Paris, an event designed to bring together the best three-year-olds from any country. Thirty years later, it introduced the Prix du Conseil Municipal, an international race for the leading horses of different age groups. It was run over 2,400 metres in October, with weights determined by a horse's previous performances.

The creation of a third such race was proposed at a committee meeting on 24 January 1920. The new event would complement the Grand Prix de Paris and serve as a showcase for French thoroughbred breeding. It would have similar characteristics to the Prix du Conseil Municipal, but each horse would compete on equal terms, unpenalised for previous victories.

Coming in the wake of World War I, it was decided that the race would be named after the Arc de Triomphe, a famous monument which had been the scene of a victory parade by the Allies in 1919. The chosen title had been previously assigned to a minor event at Longchamp. Another suggested title was the "Prix de la Victoire".

Race history

The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was first run on Sunday, 3 October 1920. The inaugural running was won by Comrade, a three-year-old colt owned by Evremond de Saint-Alary. The winner's prize was 150,000 francs.

In 1935, the event secured state funding by the means of a Sweepstake. The system was first used in 1936, and it continued until 1938. The race was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. It was run at Le Tremblay with a distance of 2,300 metres in 1943 and 1944.

Government funding of the race resumed in 1949, with money obtained through the Loterie Nationale. Offering a jackpot of 50 million francs, this enabled a rapid increase of the prizes for both the Arc and its supporting races. By the 1970s, however, the assistance of the lottery had diminished, and the system was finally discontinued after the 1982 running. Since then, the race has had several sponsors, including Trusthouse Forte, CIGA Hotels and Groupe Lucien Barrière.

Since 2008, the race has been sponsored by Qatar. The Arc weekend includes seven races classed at Group 1 level, and four with Group 2 status. It also features the Arabian World Cup, the world's richest race for purebred Arabian horses, with €1 million in prize money.

Due to renovations at the Hippodrome de Longchamp, the 2016 and 2017 editions of the race took place at Chantilly.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

• Ksar – 1921, 1922
• Motrico – 1930, 1932
• Corrida – 1936, 1937
• Tantieme – 1950, 1951
• Ribot – 1955, 1956
• Alleged – 1977, 1978
• Treve – 2013, 2014
• Enable – 2017, 2018

Leading jockey (6 wins):

• Frankie Dettori – Lammtarra (1995), Sakhee (2001), Marienbard (2002), Golden Horn (2015), Enable (2017, 2018)

Leading trainer (8 wins):

• André Fabre – Trempolino (1987), Subotica (1992), Carnegie (1994), Peintre Celebre (1997), Sagamix (1998), Hurricane Run (2005), Rail Link (2006), Waldgeist (2019)

Leading owner (6 wins):

• Marcel Boussac – Corrida (1936, 1937), Djebel (1942), Ardan (1944), Caracalla (1946), Coronation (1949)
• Khalid Abdullah – Rainbow Quest (1985), Dancing Brave (1986), Rail Link (2006), Workforce (2010), Enable (2017, 2018)

Fastest winning time – Found (2016), 2m 23.61s (at Chantilly)

Widest winning margin – Ribot (1956), Sea Bird (1965) and Sakhee (2001), 6 lengths

Oldest winning horse – Motrico (1932), aged 7 years

Most runners – 30, in 1967

Fewest runners – 7, in 1941

Winners

Cadum finished first in 1925, but he was relegated to second place for hampering Priori. The 1943 and 1944 editions were run at Le Tremblay over 2,300 metres. Midnight Sun dead-heated for first in 1959, but he was placed second for hampering Saint Crespin. Sagace finished first in 1985, but he was demoted to second for bumping Rainbow Quest. The 2016 and 2017 runnings took place at Chantilly while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment.

Analysis

References

• France Galop (1979–1989) / Racing Post (1990–present):

  • , , , , , , , , ,
  • , , , , , , , , ,
  • , , , , , , , , ,
  • , , , , , , , , ,
  • , , , , , ,

• galop.courses-france.com:

  • 1920–1949, 1950–1979, 1980–2009

References

1. "Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe".
2. (3 February 2023). "Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe". Racing Post.
3. "Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe History: The Decider". France galop.
4. (28 September 2015). "Arc: Treve à l'aube de l'exploit que même son éleveur n'a jamais vu". France sire.
5. (2 October 2020). "All you need to know about the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe before this weekend's battle". Horse & Hound.
6. (2 October 2020). "Hundred-Year History Of 'The Arc'". Thoroughbred Daily News.