The first weekend in October brings one of the highlights of the international racing calendar as Longchamp in Paris holds the two-day Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting.
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe itself, known simple as ‘The Arc’, takes place on the Sunday and is one of the most prestigious races run anywhere on the planet, seeing the top middle-distance horses compete for a share of €5 million. Across Saturday and Sunday there are a total nineteen races, including eight Group 1s with a further two Group 1s for pure-bred Arabian runners.
Saturday 3rd October 2026
Day one at Longchamp opens with the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay over 1m7f and is followed by the Group 2 Qatar Prix Dollar over 1m2f. A Group 1 for pure-bred Arabian horses is next in the Arabian Trophy Des Juments before a 1m4½f handicap in the Prix de la Place des Vosges.
The Haras de Bouquetot Criterium d’Automne is race 5 before the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu over 1m6f. Another Group 1 follows in the Prix du Cadran over the marathon 2m4f trip. Next is the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein over 1m with the day’s racing closing with a 1m handicap in the Prix de la Place de la Concorde.
- 12:23pm: Qatar Prix Chaudenay
Group 2, 1m7f, 3yo, €183,000 - 12:58pm: Qatar Prix Dollar
Group 2, 1m2f, 3yo+, €183,000 - 1:33pm: Qatar Arabian Trophy Des Juments
Group 1 (PA), 1m, 4yo, €150,000 - 2:15pm: Qatar Prix de la Place des Vosges
Handicap, 1m4½f, 3yo+, €72,000 - 2:50pm: Haras de Bouquetot Criterium d’Automne
Conditions, 1m, 2yo, €260,000 - 3:25pm: Qatar Prix de Royallieu
Group 1, 1m6f, 3yo+, €300,000 - 4:00pm: Qatar Prix du Cadran
Group 1, 2m4f, 4yo+, €300,000 - 4:35pm: Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein
Group 2, 1m, 3yo+, €183,000 - 5:10pm: Qatar Prix de la Place de la Concorde
Handicap, 1m, 3yo+, €72,000
Sunday 4th October 2026
The first seven races on Arc day are all Group 1 races, starting with the Prix Marcel Boussac over 1m, the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere over 7f and the Prix de l’Abbaye over 5f. The €1m Arabian World Cup is for pure-bred Arabians before the key race of the meeting, the 1m4f Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The weekend is rounded off by the 1m2f Prix de l’Opera Longines and the 7f Prix de la Foret before three handicaps in the 7f Grand Handicap des Flyers, another 7f race in the Prix du Festival des Nations and the 1m2f Prix de la Place de l’Etoile.
- 12:31pm: Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac
Group 1, 1m, 2yo, €400,000 - 1:09pm: Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere
Group 1, 7f, 2yo, €400,000 - 1:47pm: Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines
Group 1, 5f, 2yo+, €350,000 - 2:25pm: Qatar Arabian World Cup
Group 1 (PA), 1m2f, 4yo+, €1,000,000 - 3:05pm: Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Group 1, 1m4f, 3yo+, €5,000,000 - 3:50pm: Prix de l’Opera Longines
Group 1, 1m2f, 3yo+, €500,000 - 4:25pm: Qatar Prix de la Foret
Group 1, 7f, 3yo+, €350,000 - 5:00pm: Qatar Grand Handicap des Flyers Presente Par RMC
Handicap, 7f, 3yo+, €72,000 - 5:35pm: Qatar Prix du Festival des Nations
Handicap, 7f, 3yo+, €33,600 - 6:05pm: Qatar Prix de la Place de l’Etoile
Handicap, 1m2f, 3yo+, €72,000
