19 August 2020
The entries received today for the ten Group races for thoroughbreds of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1) weekend, on October 3 and 4 at ParisLongchamp, are up by almost 13% with a total of 479 entries received against 425 in 2019.
This result is all the more sensational as, due to the negative effects of the coronavirus crisis on France Galop's finances, prize-money for these events has been temporarily reduced from 30 to 40%. However, the combined purses of these ten races still reach €2m, thanks in particular to the renewed support of our partners in Qatar and the watchmaker Longines.
This is a testament to the attraction generated by this prestigious weekend, which brings together the best horses in Europe, year after year, around the great monument that is the Arc de Triomphe itself.
The most popular race among these ten is the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1) with 66 entries, just ahead of the other 2-year-old championship of the Arc meeting, the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1), with 64 fillies declared.