The Prix de L Arc is the most prestigious thoroughbred horse race hosted in continental Europe; anticipated throughout the season by spectators and racing professionals alike. This one of a kind event was and still is one of the strongest contributing factors to increasing the popularity of European thoroughbred racing.

The event attracts entrants from all over the world – in fact, the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe, or ‘the Arc’ as it is more commonly referred to, is one of the most popular meetings in the world. Currently the Arc awards the staggering purse of €6.3 million, making it Europe’s single most valuable event for equine sports.

Since it was introduced to the thoroughbred racing circuit on 3rd October 1920, the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe has delivered thrills of the highest order every single year. Some of the most esteemed equine athletes of our time have graced the Arc with their presence, running to victories that will never be forgotten. Thoroughbred legends like Rail Link, Dylan Thomas and Hurricane Run are amongst the more recent icons to participate in the event; however, retired heroes of the sport such as jockey Lester Piggott and his winning mounts Alleged and Rheingold have contributed to the almost mythic status of the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe.

The Arc allows entry to thoroughbred race horses over the age of three, meaning many contenders return to Paris’ Longchamp racetrack, where the event is held, more than once in their careers; attempting either to achieve a second or even third win in the event or taking to the track to right narrow misses from the previous season. No matter what the motivation, the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe is always an emotional and merciless occasion; every sportsman riding up to the stalls in this race knows that – no matter how enticing the monetary rewards may be – it is truly a lifetime of professional recognition that is at stake.

A win at the Arc is the ticket to fame for any thoroughbred, jockey and trainer. All year round trainers around the world groom their finest students and most prolific riders for October showdown in Paris. The Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe is truly a race that can make or break a career.

Jockey Kieren Fallon is the perfect example for the magical effect the Arc can have on an athlete’s standing in the racing community. Fallon was barred from racing in France for quite a number of months and selected the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe 2007 as the first race on French soil after the ban was lifted. When Fallon, against all expectations, rode a winning race on Aidan O’Brien’s genius runner Dylan Thomas it seemed the contempt the French Racing Authority held against flat racing’s bad boy simply melted away. The Arc, we learned that day, can not only start a promising career; it also has the power to revive the careers of those who seem doomed.

The Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe is hosted annually at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris in early October. This one of a kind event is a race no serious racing fan can afford to miss. So, if you feel curious and would like more information about this year’s running of the Arc, visit Horse Racing UK for frequent odds updates and daily horse racing news – it’ll guarantee you won’t miss anything.