Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
 

It is one of the great classics of the horse racing world, the most important race for horses of 3yo+ of Europe, Group 1 over the distance of 2,400 meters (12 furlongs) which is disputed in the Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, each first Sunday of October.

In each edition of Prix de lŽArc de Triomphe, thousands of persons of all Europe travel to Longchamp to be able to see in life an unforgettable show in which is, probably, the last great European meeting of the season over the classic distance, and is the best race endowed in the European calendar. In the last edition of 2008 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the purses were distributed between the first five of the following way:

The first edition of the race took place in 1920 but we have to go back to 1862 to see the origin of the race, since in that year there was a thought of create a race called The Grand Prix of Paris by the initiative of the Duke of Morny, being disputed a year later, though thirty years later, in 1893, another race was celebrated, The Prix du Conseil Municipal, to open the race to all kind of horse of age, but continued having problems with the race conditions, whereby it was necessary to wait until 1920, when was created the Prix de lŽArc de Triomphe by The Committee of the Society of Encouragement, name that was given to the race in honor to the French Soldiers of the I World War.

The first edition of Prix de lŽArc de Triomphe was disputed on 3 of October of 1920 with a purse of FF 150,000 for the winner, FF 18,000 and FF 10,000 for the second and third classified, respectively. The horse winner was Conrade with the jockey F. Bullock, carrying a weight 55 kilos, and with the training of P. Gilpin; the second place was for KingŽs Cross and the third for Pleurs in a time of 2:39.8

The record of the race until today is in the possession of Peintre Celebre who won the Prix de lŽArc de Triomphe in a time of 2:24.6, record which Sinndar was very near to beat in the 2000 edition of the race with 2:25:8.

The Prix de lŽArc de Triomphe has been celebrated from its inauguration in 1920 until today, without interruption, except in two occasions, in the years of 1939 and 1940, and in another two occasions it was not disputed in the Longchamp Racecourse, what happened in the years 1943 and 1944, they being disputed in Tremblay Racecourse, due to that France was immersed in the II World war in those years.

Until today, there are four jockeys who have won in four editions of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

And there are six jockeys with three victories, C. Elliot, C. Semblat, R. Poincelet, E. Camici, Lester Piggott, y Olivier Peslier.

Concerning the horses, there are six of them who have been able to win The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe twice.

And there is a trainer who stands out by victories reached, the great Andre Fabre with seven victories, followed by three of F. Mathet, C. Semblat and A. Head.

Andre Fabre won with the following horses,

We will await impatiently the next first Sunday of October to enjoy again of this unique race in the world, in the incomparable setting of Longchamp, in one of the most beautiful cities of the world, Paris.

Montjeu

Montjeu