The Ultimate Need to Know Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Guide

by Roy Brindley, 24 September 2025

A world championship in everything but name, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is the jewel in European horse racing’s crown. The €5 million contest, raced at Longchamps in Paris, has a long history. Can historical form help to pinpoint its next winner?

Bluestocking continued the excellent recent record of fillies & mares when winning 2024’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. © Getty Images

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Is a World Beater

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is the world’s most prestigious all-aged horse race. It is also Europe’s richest contest, boasting a €5 million prize pool. Staged at the beautiful Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, the Arc is one of the most sought-after prizes in horse racing.

A world championship in everything but name, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is traditionally staged on the first Sunday of October. Attracting contenders and racegoers worldwide, the race is broadcast live in over 60 countries.

In our ‘everything you need to know’ guide to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, you will discover the countries, horses, owners, trainers, and riders that have etched their names on the famous l’Arc de Triomphe trophy.

Our historic form guide could also help punters identify the best betting value for this year’s race and even plan the easiest way to attend the Arc weekend in person.

The Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe Background

In 1863, French racing authorities created the Grand Prix de Paris. This contest served as a vehicle for the winner of the English Derby to compete against that of the Prix du Jockey Club (the French Derby), over 3,000 metres.

A second similar race, the Prix du Conseil Municipal, made its debut in 1893. This contest – still run today but now called the Prix du Conseil de Paris – was for three-year-olds and above. However, runners would incur weight penalties for past success.

Plans for a third major contest to be hosted by Longchamp were drawn up in 1920. The new race was designed to complement the Grand Prix de Paris but to have characteristics similar to those of the Prix du Conseil Municipal. All horses would compete on equal terms in this contest, unpenalised for previous victories.

Coming in the wake of World War I, ‘Prix de la Victoire’ was considered the name of the new contest. It was eventually decided to call the race the ‘Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe’, referencing the famous Paris monument that had been the scene of a victory parade by Allied forces following the conclusion of World War I in 1919.

The breakout of World War II led to the cancellation of the 1939 and 1940 Arcs. The 1943 and 1944 renditions of the race took place at Paris Tremblay Racecourse. The race also moved away from Longchamp in 2016 and 2017, when Chantilly acted as a caretaker venue while a new grandstand was built at France’s premier flat-racing course.

Who Have Been the Arc’s Most Successful Owners and Breeders?

French entrepreneur Marcel Boussac is the most successful owner/breeder of Arc winners. He tasted Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe success six times. His winners were Corrida (in 1936 and 1937), Djebel (1942), Ardan (1944), Caracalla (1946), and Coronation (1949).

Khalid Abdullah also owned the winners of six Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes. Amongst his winners, 2006 scorer, Rail Link, Workforce (2010), and Enable (2017 and 2018) were all bred by his Juddmonte Farms.

Abdullah died in 2021, but his colours were carried to victory once more when Bluestocking landed the 2024 race for Ralph Beckett – a British trainer with an aristocratic background.

Similarly, the Aga Khan’s silks have been carried by six Arc winners: Migol (1948), Nuccio (1952), Akiyda (1982), Sinndar (2001), Dalakhani (2003) and Zarkava (2008). Aga Khan III died in 1957, and Aga Khan IV passed in 2025. His son Rahim, who became the Aga Khan V, now owns the famous bloodstock empire.

Japanese trainers have been trying to win the famous Group 1 turf contest since 1969. During the past 25 years, Japanese stables have brought quality and ever-increasing quantity to tackle the 2,400-metre challenge. So far, success has proven elusive.

Which Trainers and Jockeys Have the Best Arc Record?

André Fabre has won the big race eight times. His Arc De Triomphe winners are Trempolino (1987), Subotica (1992), Carnegie (1994), Peintre Celebre (1997), Sagamix (1998), Hurricane Run (2005), Rail Link (2006) and Waldgeist (2019).

Frankie Dettori holds the record for the most victories as a jockey. His six triumphs came courtesy of Lammtarra (1995), Sakhee (2001), Marienbard (2002), Golden Horn (2015), Enable (2017 and 2018).

Freddy Head, Pat Eddery, Thierry Jarnet, Yves Saint-Martin and Olivier Peslier each took four Arcs. Lester Piggott, an all-time top-five flat race jockey, retired with three Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe successes on his CV. Ryan Moore has landed the race twice.

Recent Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Winners

• 2024 Bluestocking (aged 4), SP: 11/2, Trained By: Ralph Beckett (UK)
• 2023 Ace Impact (aged 3), SP: 19/10, Trained By: Jean-Claude Rouget (France)
• 2022 Alpinista (aged 5), SP: 33/10, Trained By: Sir Mark Prescott (UK)
• 2021 Torquator Tasso (aged 4), SP: 72/1, Trained By: Marcel Weiss (Germany)
• 2020 Sottsass (aged 4), SP: 73/10, Trained By: Jean-Claude Rouget (France)
• 2019 Waldgeist (aged 5), SP: 131/10, Trained By: Andre Fabre (France)
• 2018 Enable (aged 4), SP: Evens, Trained By: John Gosden (UK)
• 2017 Enable (aged 3) SP: 10/11, Trained By: John Gosden (UK)
• 2016 Found (aged 4) SP: 6/1, Trained By: Aidan O’Brien (Ireland)
• 2015 Golden Horn (aged 3) SP: 9/2, Trained By: John Gosden (UK)
• 2014 Treve (aged 4) SP: 11/1, Trained By: Criquette Head (France)
• 2013 Treve (aged 3) SP: 9/2, Trained By: Criquette Head (France)
• 2012 Solemia (aged 4) SP: 33/1, Trained By: Carlos Laffon-Parias (France)

In a remarkable training feat, trainer Aidan O’Brien, a recognised all-time great, was responsible for the first three home in 2016’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Furthermore, his trio – Found, Highland Reel and Order of St George – were all sired by Galileo.

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Notable Stats

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is open to three-year-olds and older, but geldings are excluded. Three-year-olds carry eight-stone 12-pound in the Arc. Horses aged four and older carry nine stone five pounds. Fillies and mares receive a three-pound allowance.

In 2023, the maximum field size for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe rose from 20 to 24. History shows a low draw is favourable, and a high draw is disadvantageous. There have been four winning favourites since 2009, and no horse aged six or above has won the Arc since 1932.

Fillies and mares have enjoyed excellent recent success in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with Zarkav (2008), Danedream (2011), Solemia (2012), Treve (2013 and 2014), Found (2016), Enable (2017 and 2018), Alpinista (2022), Bluestocking (2024) all scoring.

French-trained horses have kept the trophy at home 69 times. British runners have won 16 l’Arc de Triomphes. Ireland has claimed the prize eight times. Italy, with six successes and Germany, twice successful, complete the list of nations that have won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Eighteen horses returned to defend their Arc title the following season and failed. The most recent was Torquator Tasso, who finished third in 2022. Fifteen other horses failed to win the race at a first attempt but returned to win it the following year. Sottsass, third in 2019, was the most recent.

Solemia is the only one of the last 15 Arc winners not to have previously landed a Group-1. She had scored at Group-2 level and was Group-1 placed on the outing prior to her Arc success.

Who Were the Outstanding L’Arc de Triomphe Winners?

The race’s largest margin of victory is six lengths. Three horses have won the Arc by that distance: Ribot (1956), Sea Bird (1965) and Sakee (2001).

Mill Reef was the Arc’s most celebrated winner of the 1970s. In his three-year-old season, the American-bred horse was runner-up in the 2000 Guineas but went unbeaten through the Derby, Eclipse Stakes and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth before landing the European showpiece.

Dancing Brave was the most memorable Arc winner of the 1980s, and he had a similar profile to Mill Reef. An unlucky runner-up in the Derby, he won the 2000 Guineas, Eclipse and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 1986 before his success in Paris.

The 2009 Arc winner, Sea The Stars, is considered one of the most outstandingArc winners of the modern era. His margin of victory was two lengths, but his Prix de l’Arc Triomphe success represented his sixth successive Group-1 victory as a three-year-old.

Enable went close to winning an unprecedented third Arc de Triomphe in 2019. She finished second in her hat-trick attempt and returned to contest the Arc for a fourth time in 2020 when starting as the odds-on favourite.

2023 Arc winner, Ace Impact, never raced as a two-year-old and was retired as an unbeaten six-time winner after his success in the €5 million contest.

How To Watch and Bet on the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe

Domestically, the race is broadcast on ITV Racing and Sky Sports. The best online betting sites will also show the Arc. With so much interest, online sportsbooks offer many betting markets on the contest.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is not part of the World Pool. However, the French tote, run by Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU), has over 100 partners in 57 countries. It will ensure race day betting pools will be bulging.

Arc de Triomphe betting begins the moment the horses cross the line. The winner will be quoted for the following year’s race almost immediately, thus creating an ante-post betting market that remains open for 12 months. The Prix de l’Arc Triomphe odds will change as the season’s significant races unearth new candidates.

On race day, the UK’s top Arc de Triomphe online betting sites will promote a buffet of bet opportunities and bonus offers. For example, as a non-handicap, the Arc should pay each-way terms of positions 1-2-3. But punters who shop around will find online betting sites promoting 1-2-3-4 positions.

The Best Way to Visit the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

It is estimated that more than half of the Arc de Triomphe’s 35,000 race day attendees visit Longchamps from overseas. Every year, a significant proportion of the racegoers come from Japan.

For the Japanese, the journey to Paris is not straightforward. However, English and Irish fans can make the journey easily in just a few hours. Amongst the best options, you can fly into Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and then take a taxi to the course. It will cost around €80 and arrive at the course in 30-35 minutes.

Alternatively, a Eurostar train from St Pancras Station will arrive in Paris Gare du Nord two hours and twenty minutes after it departs London. From Gare du Nord, Longchamps is a 15-minute and €30 taxi ride away.

Racecourse entry tickets are relatively cheap compared to their British counterparts at major meetings. Booking online early is recommended, as some enclosures – such as the Winning Post Gold Stand – can sell out quickly.

Organisers make concessions for two-day passes for those planning to attend Saturday’s racing in addition to Arc day.