Arc de Triomphe bosses set to rip up rule book and end 110-year tradition amid fears £4miillion race is being ‘devalued’

3 months ago 29

THE Arc de Triomphe is considering ending 110 years of tradition amid fears one of the world’s richest horse races is being ‘devalued’.

Bosses have confirmed they will look into ripping up the rule book and allowing geldings to run in the £4.3million contest.

a jockey is riding a horse with his arms in the air

Frankie Dettori won the Arc de Triomphe a record six times – but £4.3million race could have a totally different look if new rules come in[/caption]

Held every year in October, the ParisLongchamp showpiece draws a global audience and has been won by some of the biggest names in the sport.

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But specific rules in line with the Classics in Britain currently forbid geldings – horses who have had their balls removed – from taking part.

One notable difference, though, is that the Arc is an all-ages race, unlike Britain’s Classics.

The issue around field qualities and identifying the best horse has been thrust into the limelight this year given two of the season’s top performers are blocked from running in the Arc.

Superb King George winner Goliath and Royal Ascot hero Calandagan – both trained by Francis-Henri Graffard – are not allowed to race.

This despite the former winning the summer’s big 1m4f contest and the latter finishing just a length second to City Of Troy in last month’s Juddmonte.

Some claim this year’s and future Arc de Triomphe runnings risk being ‘devalued’ unless all the top horses are allowed to compete.

New France Galop chiefs say they will look at the qualification criteria ahead of new rules coming in, potentially, in 2030, some 110 years after the race was first run.

France Galop’s assistant director general Henri Pouret said: “The feeling in 2019 was that certain races should be kept as races of selection for the breeding industry.

“All sorts of subjects are being examined and, while the list of those subjects has not been finalised, the exclusion of geldings from the Arc and the Jacques le Marois will definitely be among them.

“Speaking more specifically about the decision on geldings, the hard deadline would be to take a decision before the middle of February when the European Pattern Committee meets.”

Three-year-old colt and Prix Du Jockey Club winner Look De Vega is the current 3-1 favourite.

Fellow home hope Sosie is the 7-1 second-fav while Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa comes next at 12-1.

It looks a lean year for British trainers in the great race, with Charlie Appleby’s Arabian Crown the best of those entered at 33-1.