The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) and France Galop, a symbiosis of great racing cultures
The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) represents Qatari investment in the racing world, also enabling the state to return to its roots and its traditional attachment of everything relating to the equine species.
QREC is responsible for organising and promoting Qatari racing in its own country as well as through its partnerships, contributing to strong links with the industry France and the spectacular results.
Since 2008, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and 14 other Group races in France have been under its banner. It is thanks to this important partner, that France Galop can hold the world’s richest turf race, worth €5 million.
Aside from the prestigious Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe week-end amongst others, Qatar also shows its support to a number of Purebred Arabian races in France, a sport that the state is also very attached to.
The Qatar Arabian World Cup, a race that they have sponsored since 2014 and run on the same day as the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, has seen its prize money rise to an unprecedented €1 million.
Qatar also supports a number of important race meetings in Great Britain, notably Glorious Goodwood and Champions’ Day at Ascot under QIPCO.
The members of Qatar’s ruling Al Thani family have become some of the world’s most important owners, and have also turned their hand to breeding with ever-increasing success.
Longines, the “Timekeeper” of International Racing
The Swiss watchmaker Longines has been rooted in the world of sport since 1878. In France, they are currently the official timekeepers at the racecourses of Chantilly, Deauville and Longchamp. The Prix de Diane Longines, run every June at Chantilly, perfectly represents this elegant partnership, mirroring performance and precision. The Prix de l’Opera, a championship race for fillies and mares run during the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe week-end, is also sponsored by the brand.
In addition, Longines is a partner of the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities and sponsors the International Classifications as well as the International Jockeys’ Championship. They are also associated with top class racing events in Australia, the UAE, Qatar, South America, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Ireland, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and China, as well as in the United States.
Through these partnerships, Longines is associated with the most prestigious horse racing meetings across the globe and, as a result, merits the title of the "timekeeper" of racing.
The Barriere Group, the historical partner of the Deauville Summer Meeting
Established in Deauville, the Barriere Group have become one of the most important jewels in France’s crown of hotel groups and casinos, both domestically and abroad.
Their partnership with France Galop, that has lived for the rhythm of the Normandy coast every summer since the creation of the racecourse there in 1863, is also cultural and historical. Both have contributed to the emergence of Deauville as one of the most popular seaside destinations in the world.
The Group was also the sponsor of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe between 1999 and 2007, and the links are still particularly strong. The Grand Prix de Deauville Lucien Barriere, the final highlight of the Deauville Summer Meeting and a springboard towards the Arc, perpetuates this union of two brands of recreation on the beaches of Normandy.
UAE PRESIDENT CUP SERIES, partner of French Guineas weekend
Abu Dhabi Sports Council was established in 2006 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The Abu Dhabi Sports Council is aligned to the emirate’s leadership vision to develop sport and youth activities. It organises many sporting events in Abu Dhabi and internationally, including golf, Formula 1, triathlon, sailing, cycling and horse racing.
Abu Dhabi Sports Council has become the title partner of Emirates Poules d'Essai, the day when two of the most important events in the French program are held: Emirates Poules d'Essai des Poulains and Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. The partnership with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council will also include the European Arabian Horse Cup, a Group 1 race for thoroughbred Arabian horses and part of The President of the UAE Cup Series.
Coolmore, the multinational Thoroughbred
Rare are the thoroughbred breeders in the world that don’t know the name of the Irish stud, Coolmore. Created in Ireland but now also with farms in the United States and Australia, the organisation’s origins date to the 1970s and the partnership of three men: Robert Sangster, John Magnier, and Vincent O’Brien.
The expertise, resources and ambition of these three combined that saw them buy the first offspring of the soon to be legendary stallion Northern Dancer, have changed the history of the breed. Selected and subsequently trained by O’Brien, financed by Sangster, and managed by Magnier, these gave Coolmore the firepower to quickly reach the summits of breeding and racing.
In 2016, the operation recorded a never before achieved feat in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe when owning the first three home, Found, Highland Reel, and Order Of St. George all homebred offspring of their multiple times Champion Sire, Galileo, a grandson of Northern Dancer.
Having been partnered with several investors over the years, Coolmore is still managed by John Magnier, who has continually developed and evolved the operation to keep it at the forefront of the industry. Horses bred or bought by Coolmore have won nearly all the major races across the world, and their stallions are amongst those that are the most in demand across both hemispheres.
Today, Coolmore, the flagship of Irish breeding, has around 60 stallions spread between its three studs. In particular, Northern Dancer’s son Sadler’s Wells and subsequently his sons Galileo and Montjeu have continued a line that has given rise some of the best thoroughbreds in the world.
France Galop has been partnered with Coolmore since 2006, and the Pour Moi Prix Saint-Alary, part of the fillies’ triple crown run in the spring at Longchamp for the three-year-old female generation, carries the name of a stallion that will always hold a special place in the heart of the French. Winner of the Epsom Derby in 2011, this achievement came an astounding 45 years after the previous French victory in the most famous of British Classics.
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The Aga Khan Studs
The Aga Khan Studs - which has farms in both France and in Ireland, where champion Sea The Stars is based at Gilltown Stud – recently celebrated 100 years of its family-run operation. It has enjoyed a remarkable year on the track in 2024, thanks to the Classic victories of Oaks winner Ezeliya and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Rouhiya. The stud is also renowned for its breeding stock sales, which each year offer the opportunity to acquire females from some of its finest families at Goffs and Arqana. In previous years the Aga Khan Studs have sponsored the Gr.1 National Stakes, while His Highness the Aga Khan was instrumental in the creation and support of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend through a partnership with Ciga Hotels. Starting in 2025, the Aga Khan Studs are pleased to sponsor the entire day of the legendary Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.
Sumbe, the new sponsorship of Prix Morny
The Sumbe group is owned by Nurlan Bizakov, who breeds and owns racehorses (he also stands stallions and currently has about 50 horses in training). In addition to the historic Hesmonds Stud in England, Sumbe has two studs in France: the Haras de Monfort & Préaux (bought in 2019) and Mézeray (2021) that stretch over 350 hectares between the regions of Orne and Calvados. These stud farms are the home to four outstanding stallions: Mishriff, Golden Horde, De Treville and Recorder, together with 50 broodmares and boarders. Last year Sumbe celebrated a Group 1 victory as an owner/breeder when Belbek lifted the prestigious Qatar Prix de Jean-Luc Lagardère.
In the wake of a breakout past season, they wish to further establish themselves as a long-term player and partner of the industry while asserting our support to this beautiful, beloved game which never leaves us short of bedazzlement. The Meeting de Deauville Barrière, with its very international appeal, is a good reflection of Sumbe’s indentity.
American Racing Channel (ARC), the partner of a new world
American Racing Channel (ARC) exporte dans le monde entier les images et les licences de paris des institutions hippiques des The American Racing Channel (ARC) exports worldwide the images and betting licenses of the equestrian institutions of the main thoroughbred breeding and racing countries of South America, in particular Argentina, Uruguay and Peru.
Horse racing in these countries has undergone a singular effort since the interwar period, and under the joint influence of Europe and North America, their breeding has developed greatly. The Latin American racing program was very well received by the French public when Equidia, the racing and horse channel, began broadcasting its meetings in France, and it was to crown the success of this venture that ARC became, in 2012, the official partner of the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr1), one of the summer championships in Deauville.
Haras d’Etreham, a reference of French Breeding
Since 2019, this great house of French breeding with its renowned stallions that are the European leader of the jumping SAINT DES SAINTS, the Steeple-Chaser champion GOLIATH DU BERLAIS, the rising star of the jumping MASKED MARVEL or the young stallion and only winner of Gr1 by Camelot at stud, LATROBE.
The Normandy stud is the official partner of the Haras d'Etreham Prix Magalen Bryant (Gr2), a hurdle race reserved for 3-year-old fillies (over 3,600 m), with a total prize money of €175,000 thanks to the partnership's contribution, takes place every year on the Auteuil racecourse, on the Saturday of the 48h de l'Obstacle weekend in early November. On this occasion, the Haras d'Etreham will reward the winning filly's entourage and offer her owner a covering from one of its jumping stallions.
Sky Sports Racing
Sky Sports Racing (formerly At The Races) is a British horse racing pay-TV channel broadcasting domestic, European and international horse racing. Since 2018, Sky Sports Racing has been broadcasting over 200 races and major French events. This new system will highlight the quality of French racing in a very dynamic Anglo-Saxon market that offers exciting prospects for the entire French industry. Sky Sports Racing is pleased to support two races during the opening of the Meeting de Deauville: the Prix Six Perfections and the Prix de Psyche.
Racing TV
For several years now, France Galop and Racing TV have been linked by a broadcasting partnership in France featuring races from circa 80 English and Irish fixtures, including a wealth of high-profile Group races. These races are offered to French punters. Racing TV International distributes British and Irish races in some forty countries, France being one of its main markets. Racing TV is sponsoring the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil during the Grand Steeple Chase de Paris weekend.
Arqana Series
Open to all yearlings presented at ARQANA's yearling sales (the August Sale, the September Yearling Sale, the October Yearling Sale and the November Yearling Sale), foals presented at the December 2022 Breeding Stock Sale and 2-year-olds presented at the May Breeze Up, the ARQANA Series consists of five races reserved for 2 and 3-year-olds. Four of these races take place at the prestigious Deauville Meeting, on the Thursday before the August Sale.
Hong Kong Jockey Club
The collaboration between the French Horse Racing industry and the Hong Kong Jockey Club is strengthened during the Meeting de Deauville Barrière with the Hong Kong Jockey Club supporting the Prix Gontaut-Biron (Group 3) and the Grand Handicap des Sprinters in August. After the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club and the Prix de Diane Longines, four Deauville race meetings will be offered to Hong Kong bettors as a World Pool event with the PMU for winning and placed bets.
Jockey Club de Turquie
The TJK sponsors the Group 3 Prix Thomas Bryon for 2-year-old colts, geldings and fillies at the race meeting preceding the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend at Saint-Cloud.
Cygames
Japanese company Cygames specialises in the creation, development and publishing of video games, and is renowned for the development and management of numerous video game franchises, including Granblue Fantasy, Shadowverse and Umamusume: Pretty Derby – a series inspired by real-life horse racing. In a bid to bring the world of racing to a younger, curious and connected audience, while celebrating the sporting excellence and elegance of horse racing, Cygames has become Title Partner of the Cygames Grand Prix de Paris and Official Partner of the Garden Party.