|
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barrière October 5th Longchamp Paris |
|
On 18 August 1854, the Paris city council authorised 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).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. Charabangs, Victorian carriages and paddleboats all brought Parisians to Longchamp. In addition, 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 colours 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 Gladiateur, 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 totalling FF 300,000. At the beginning of August, however, all racecourses were requisitioned for the war effort. Racing officially began again on 5th 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 worlds 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. 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 Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe has now been run eighty-one times, always on the first Sunday in October (with the exception of 1939 and 1940). Sunday 5th October 2003 will be the eighty-second renewal of what is generally considered, the world's greatest horserace. |
|
2003 Renewal |
|
Over recent years, the classic genre have held sway over the older brigade when the generations clash in the Prix de L’Arc De Triomphe at Longchamp in early October, with seven of the last ten winners being three-year-olds. Among those, we have seen some genuine equine stars of the turf, including Lammtarra, Peintre Celebre and Montjeu. This year, Dalakhani, trading at a price no greater than 2-1, appears to have the ideal profile and attributes to land the contest for the Alain De Royer-Dupre stable. Owned by the Aga Khan, Dalakhani has only had his colours lowered once in eight career starts and showed himself to be a colt of class aplenty when landing the Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) at Chantilly in June, beating Super Celebre by a, although diminishing, comfortable two lengths. He showed there – as he did on his most recent start in the Prix Niel, which is a recognised Arc Trial – excellent cruising speed and a decisive turn-of-foot. Both of these qualities are essential ingredients to look for in a potential Arc winner, and Dalakhani is going to be a tough nut to crack come October 5th. However, when scrutinising the merit of his achievements, the top-price of 2-1 looks rather prohibitive. By contrast, Ange Gabriel looks an exceptional each way proposition at 10-1, a price that is generally available with a number of firms, including Coral and Stanley Bet. He, like Dalakhani, came through his Arc trial with distinction, landing the Prix Foy, which is for four-year-olds and upwards. That was a relatively straight-forward Group 3 event, but Ange Gabriel has proven his ability at the highest level, a point underlined by his second successive victory in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud over the twelve-furlong Arc trip at the end of June. He is underrated in a race that is far more open than an initial glance would have you believe. He tends to race handily and grab his races by the scruff of the neck, doing just enough to repel his challengers. This style of racing often leads to him not gaining the plaudits he deserves, as he is not the type of horse that wins his races by wide margins or with apparent ease. His approach is effective, however, and he is capable of tapping into further resources should they be needed; resources that are not always displayed to the naked eye. His trainer, Eric Libaud, one of the less "fashionable trainers", expects his charge to be twenty-five per-cent better on Arc day, compared to his victory in the Prix Foy. That extra twenty-five per-cent could well be good enough to see the grey lift this event under Thierry Jarnet, who landed the 1994 renewal aboard the Andre Fabre-trained Carnegie. Ange Gabriel’s most significant victory to date came in the valuable Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin last December, beating Aquarelliste and Falcon Flight. On a line through Falcon Flight, Ange Gabriel is closely matched with Aidan O’Brien’s High Chaparral, who also beat that horse into third when successful at last season Breeder’s Cup meeting in Arlington. High Chaparral is second best in the market at around 11-4, and warmed up for this contest with a game victory in the Ireland The Food Island Champion Stakes at Leopardstown earlier in the month, where his cause was aided by the fact that Falbrav experienced trouble in running. The son of Sadler’s Wells appears to have trained-on well, and ran with real credit to be third in this race last year behind Marienbard and Sulamani, before landing the Breeders’ Cup Turf in November. This dual Derby winning colt will be hard to deny a place in the frame, but does not seem to have the necessary ability to instantly accelerate and it is, therefore, likely that he will be tapped for toe by one or two of his rivals on a track that places greater emphasis on speed than stamina. Bar Dalakhani, Doyen could be the chief threat to the selection. He represents the Andre Fabre stable, which is responsible for three of the last ten winners of this very race. He was only having his third start when runner-up to Dalakhani in the Prix Neil, and looks capable of improving even further. His penultimate run saw him beat Policy Maker in a Group 3 race at Longchamp, form boosted by Policy Maker’s two subsequent victories. Islington, fifth in this race last year, should run her race and the distance here will suit her more than the Irish Champion; a place is a distinct possibility. Mubtaker is well worth his chance in this race, and is worthy of consideration. Kris Kin, beaten twice since landing the Derby, will run well, it would however, be a surprise if he were to reverse placings with those who have beaten him, since his day of glory. |
|
Submitted by: Graham Richards Visit Graham Richards Racing website |
