Entry process: new measures for Group 2, Group 3 and Listed races - Flat racing

On Tuesday 17th December 2024, the Board of France Galop approved the revision of the entry process in Group 2 and Group 3 races, and Listed races. This measure is based on the process implemented in Group 1 races in 2024, which has guaranteed sustainable funding of the Owner’s Pool (Poule Propriétaire).

Incomes from the Owner’s Pool stem from entry and supplementary entry fees in flat Black Type races. They contribute to the financing of Black Type races. 32 % of the prizemoney offered in Group 1 races is funded by the Owner’s Pool.

GROUP 2 AND 3 RACES  

The main impact in the entry process is twofold:

1/ Cheaper fees and earlier closing dates

To ensure consistency in the entry process, which changed in 2024 for Group 1 races, the entry fee in Group 3 and Group 2 races now stands at 0.65% of the total prizemoney.

The impact is a drop in the entry fee:  

·       By 29,5 % in Group 2 races (- 355 €)

·       By 37,5 % in Group 3 races (- 210 €)

Just like Group 1 races last year, the early closing stage of Group 2 and Group 3 races in 2025 is moved forward to 4 ½ to 5 ½ weeks prior to the race.

2/ The « Second entry »: an opportunity to enter in a Pattern race in France that is too often missed

The French programme offers a unique opportunity to enter a horse in a Pattern race in between the early closing and the supplementary entry.

Second entries are also part of the revision of the entry process and will now close at the latest on the Tuesday of the week preceding the race. Its fee has also been standardised at 2 % of the total prizemoney.

The three Group 2 races run over the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend are the only exceptions to the rule. While their second entry fee stands at 2 % of the total prizemoney (like other Group 2 races), their second entry closing is positioned on a Tuesday mid-September.

3/ Supplementary entries: same level as Group 1 races

With the aim to standardise entry fees in all Pattern races, the supplementary entry fee in Group 2 and Group 3 races now stands at 7.2% of the total prizemoney.

This percentage is applied to Group 1 races except for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club and the Prix de Diane Longines.

CHANGES REGARDING LISTED RACES

Entry closing for Listed races remain the same: 8 days prior to the race like any other non-Black Type races.

But entry fees change:

·       Whereas it used to be a fixed amount for all Listed races (250€), the entry fee now stands at 0.65% of the total prizemoney.

·       The supplementary entry fee stands at 7.2% of the total prizemoney.

Fees and closing dates of Black Type races

(Apart from the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the French Classics (the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains and Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, the Prix de Diane Longines and the Grand Prix de Paris) and the Group 2 races of the weekend of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe which have specific early closing dates.)

Entry fees and the terms of payment towards the Owner’s Pool are mentioned in the « Conditions Générales » of France Galop on page 47.

They are available for download with the link below:

https://www.france-galop.com/sites/default/files/2025-02/cg-2025_compressed-6.pdf