The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is very much the first among equals when it comes to Europe’s great all-aged middle-distance races. It benefits from a combination of history and a certain ‘X Factor’ magic, while being reinforced by a €5 million prize fund – and certainly doesn’t need tweaking, even if it does mean the occasional top-class gelding misses out.
France Galop said this week it was considering making that change as part of discussions around its 2030 strategic plan. Giving his view on the news, Sir Mark Prescott said: “Probably the purist would say you’ve got to have the colts and the practical person would say you’d have the geldings.”
We should recognise that practical change is vital in keeping the sport healthy and moving forward, but the question that might reasonably be asked of those in favour of allowing geldings is this: is the Arc a race in danger of losing its status or dropping down the order of priorities for owners and trainers?
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Published on 5 September 2024inAnother View
Last updated 14:00, 5 September 2024
