The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Updated: 2025
When it comes to racing European Thoroughbreds, it’s hard to find a competition that rivals the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. More often referred to as simply the Arc, this race is said, in reference to its namesake, to be more of a monument than a race. For a horse to overcome this monumental event, it essentially has to be an all-around great performer—not just a performer with speed and something of a slingshot start, but a great performer in essentially all parts of a race's many components.
Winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe means joining the company of some of the greatest horses in racing. But French horses don't have a monopoly on the winners' enclosure. The Arc's roster includes equine champs from all around the world—from Europe, yes, but also the United States, Asia, and beyond. And while the event might come to seem insular, what's with all the French language, French harems, French breakfasts, and so forth, we're really talking about a horse race with worldwide appeal.
Taking place at the Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France, the Arc de Triomphe is a demanding test that showcases the very best from all corners of the equine world. Because the fields are so strong, bettors have a prime opportunity to turn the race into a cash generator, whether they are at Longchamp or wagering from afar. Indeed, the amount bet on the race routinely overwhelms the amounts bet on any other European horse races, classic or otherwise.
The Specifics of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Each year, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe horse race is run on the first Saturday in October at Longchamp, where most of its history has unfolded since the event was inaugurated in 1920. Thirty-eight times since then (in comparison, the race has not been run at Longchamp for only 13 years), horses have raced against each other for the title won most often (five times) by the great mare Trêve. The title run for in this Grass Course Group 1 event is not one for the faint of heart, as it is run at a novel distance of 2,400 meters, or a mile and a half.
By 2025, the purse for the Arc de Triomphe had risen to 5 million Euros, making it one of the world's most lucrative equestrian events. As a result, betting on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe has become a not-to-be-missed opportunity for racing fans and equestrian event gamblers.
Arriving at the end of such a lengthy competition in racing, it involves competitors who have almost universally proven themselves in racing of repute across European and international venues. Add to this the fact that Longchamp is sited right on the river Seine, with the kind of views a half lap of the remutualized play we so enjoy making to the crowd— a. the scenicness; b. the importance of the racing to the horses and their humans; and c. the sheer fun and spectacle of it all—that's the kind of thing that drags a healthy assemblage of bodies up and down the banks to watch this race.
In that sense, the Arc has become the focal point for a whole weekend of intense competition in the region. This top-tier racing affair, called the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Weekend, boasts not just one, but 16 different contests. Three of these are obviously not worth much as far as prestigue goes, since they will be run by 6 of the 10 horses that make up the world's slowest lineup; but nine of the 16 races are Group 1s, the very highest level of stakes races in the world. Altogether, they offer up a mind-boggling total purse of 9.7 million Euros.
The Arc de Triomphe is also the last of a set of European races called the EpiqE Series. This series determines which of the even finer jockeys wins its overall title. The Arc often makes that decision, awarding a large cash bonus to the horsemen who are the even finer horsemen for having the even finer horses.
Betting on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is substantial, with a 62 million Euro total at the last event. It’s easy to find the Arc en Ciel Village and place a wager while savouring the good time that seems to surround that space. If you’re not in Paris, you can still put down some sweet euro on the 2016 edition (or any upcoming edition) of this race that so many think of as a World Series or Super Bowl of sorts for turf racers.
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Origins
The high-stakes French horse races that we know today began to form in the 19th century. But a race like the Arc couldn't have been created until French racing authorities started organizing events that allowed equine competitors from all over the world to take part. Once that began in the late 19th century, the foundation was laid for a race of international scope to run at Longchamp.
This finally happened in 1920 when a purse of 150,000 Francs was put on the line in the race's first running. Given that the event's debut was so soon after the end of World War I, it made perfect sense to name the race after the famous Parisian victory monument, the Arc de Triomphe. Comrade, a 3-year-old colt, captured the event's very first running.
Over the years, there have been times when the Arc de Triomphe could not be run at Longchamp. World War II was the main culprit, forcing it to be canceled in 1939 and 1940 and moving it to Le Tremblay in 1943 and 1944. In 2016 and 2017, the Arc was run at Chantilly Racecourse because of renovations at Longchamp, but it returned to Longchamp for the 2018 edition.
For many years, the French government delivered funding for the Arc de Triomphe. Those days have passed, and now, only sponsors cover the costs, in amounts so substantial that the purse has grown to be the third-richest in all of Thoroughbred racing.
Classic Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Races
Ksar was the first horse to win the race twice, and he did it back-to-back.
For the first time in the history of the event, a disqualification decided the winner. Even though Cadum finished first, he was placed behind Priori for causing interference. This cause quite a stir among the people who were betting that day on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
In these years, Motrico secured victory not once but twice, becoming a champion. But what makes this triumph all the more remarkable is the fact that the horse had been retired to stud prior to these wins. And while he was in the business of helpin' to make baby horses at that time, Motrico was not a successful sire. But then, out of nowhere, he returned to the track and became a two-time winner of the Arc!
The first female horse to win the Arc twice, Corrida accomplished the feat as a three-year-old filly and a four-year-old mare.
Tantieme became the next dual winner of the Arc de Triomphe. He retired with 12 wins in his 15 career races.
Ribot, an English-bred horse trained in Italy, is one of the rare dual champions in the long history of the Arc de Triomphe. Not only did he win the famous race two times, but he also retired undefeated after 16 starts. It’s worth noting that one of the few horses to lose to Ribot, the 1956 runner-up Oroso, won the Arc the following year.
At the Arc de Triomphe, Midnight Sun and Saint Crespin finished in a dead heat, but Midnight Sun was awarded the victory due to interference by Saint Crespin.
British racing legend Sea-Bird, who captured many of the Classic races in his home country, dominated the Arc with a six-length victory.
The 30 competitors that formed the field of the latest edition of the Arc de Triomphe—an all-time high for this annual international horse race—congregated at Longchamp, a Paris racetrack, in early October. Of those 30 horses, the champion racehorse Topyo drove to victory. 10/6/19, "Topyo Breeds Its Own Horse for Placing, Blues for Dubai Finish" by Ben Gose (The New York Times).
Nijinsky, who had just won the British Triple Crown, was defeated by Sassafras in the Arc. This was his first loss after 11 straight wins to start his career.
At 118-1, Star Appeal became the massive long-shot winner. He was the first horse ever trained in Germany to win the event.
Alleged was the first horse to win two consecutive Arc races. For a long time, no other horse would be able to match that accomplishment.
The Arc was won by the filly Three Troikas, making Criquette Head the first female trainer in the history of the race to achieve that feat.
Following her victory in the Arc, the filly All Along journeyed to North America, where she captured three more major stakes races in a span of 41 days, succeeding in the Parisian backdrop that was her previous triumph.
Sagace was the first to cross the finish line, and it seemed he had won his second straight Arc de Triomphe race. However, he was disqualified for causing interference with another horse, Rainbow Quest, who was given the win. Notice the way the second sentence uses the word 'however' to signal a change in the expected outcome. Also, consider how the text could be listed for emphasis.
The colt Lammtarra, a three-year-old who had also won the British Classic race the Epsom Derby earlier in the year, won the Arc. He would then be retired with an unbeaten record after just four career races.
Zarkava won her first race against colts, achieving an Arc victory and remaining unbeaten. She retired undefeated after six races.
Recent Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Treve | Thierry Jarnet |
| 2014 | Treve | Thierry Jarnet |
| 2015 | Golden Horn | Frankie Dettori |
| 2016 | Found | Ryan Moore |
| 2017 | Enable | Frankie Dettori |
| 2018 | Enable | Frankie Dettori |
| 2019 | Waldgeist | Pierre-Charles Boudot |
Betting on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
As mentioned above, betting on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe attracts people from all around the globe. You can probably guess that a good number of these individuals do their betting on this race online. What follows are some betting basics as they pertain to the Arc and in the context of possibly picking a horse that will cross the finish line first.
Where Do You Bet on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe?
If you are fortunate enough to get to Paris and Longchamp Racecourse, you can always make a bet right there on the premises. However, this is not the most probable scenario, unless you are already living in Europe in close proximity to France. In all likelihood, you are going to be in front of some form of a screen, employing either the good ol' TV or the internet to partake in the visual aspects of the thing.
If you plan to place a wager through an online bookmaker, this is one instance in which you should shop around for the best Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe odds. Many Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting sites will adjust their odds according to the level of betting interest they have in certain horses. This means you might be able to find some sites offering you better odds for your favorite if you simply check a few of them.
Also, you can ensure that they provide you with bonuses that are to your liking, and that they allow you to deposit and withdraw your funds at your convenience.
The bottom line is that you shouldn’t just jump at the first site that you find. Check around a little bit until you’re comfortable that you’ve found one that gives you just what you need out of your real money Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe betting experience.
What Types of Bets Are Available on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe?
You can place many different kinds of bets on horse racing, either online or at a track. If you want to keep it really simple and just make a straight bet on a single horse to win or to finish in a spot that is somewhere near the top (and you should try to find those beneficial odds, because with straight bets there's not a whole lot of value), then make that bet and enjoy the race. If you prefer, you can stick with tote betting, where the odds are constantly changing right up to post time based on how much is being bet on each particular race.
You could also choose to place a more elaborate bet on the race. Exotic, or accumulator, betting allows you to select not just one but several different horses to finish in a certain order in a single race. Or, in the case of some exotic bets, it might mean you have to select the winners of several different races, with the Arc among those selected, to hit your exotic jackpot.
Winning these kinds of bets is tough because usually every component of the bet has to be correct for you to see a return. But if you want to actually get some bang for your buck, they're the way to go, since the payouts on these sorts of bets are usually quite high.
What Is the Best Strategy for Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Betting?
Horse racing wagering plan is something that can differ from one person to the next. You can keep it simple and go with a gut feeling. Or you can study past performances and look for clues to determine which horses will perform the best.
A key factor in your mind should be the identity of the jockeys and trainers for each horse. Some of these men and women might be at a stage in their careers where they are at or near their peak. Their influence on a horse's performance could be significant. Or they could have had past success in big races, with some of them possibly having won the Arc itself.
Regardless of your betting strategy for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, it is worthwhile to invest a bit of time in making assured selections. When making your choices, apply a strategy that focuses on maximizing your potential return with a limited downside.
