The Arc was first run in 1920 when it was won by Comrade. It had high prizemoney from its inception and was open to international horses three-year-old and older with the aim of encouraging French breeders, as much of their best bloodstock had been decimated by the First World War. It was cancelled in 1939 and 1940 during World War II and was moved to Le Tremblay over 2,300 metres during 1943 and 1944.

It is Europe’s top race for three-year-olds and above over the classic 2,400 metres, and normally attracts entries from several European countries and other parts of the world. It is currently the world’s fourth richest turf race, following the Evereset, Melbourne Cup and the Japan Cup. Longchamp racecourse is on the banks of the River Seine and the race is steeped in tradition and style.

2021 was the 100th running of the race. In 2022 the bottom-rated runners were eliminated  for the first time in the race’s history. Among those who missed out were Australia’s champion mare Verry Elleegant, Prix de Diane runner-up La Parisienne and the Ed and Simon Crisford-trained West Wind Blows. In 2023 the maximum field size was increased from 20 to 24 as the ParisLongchamp track is so huge there are no safety issues with 24 runners.

Multiple winners: Enable (2017 & 2018), Treve (2013 & 2014), Alleged (1977 & 1978), Ribot (1955 & 1956), Tantieme (1950 & 1951), Corrida (1936 & 1937), Motrico (1930 & 1932) and Ksar (1921 & 1922)

Interesting trivia:

Eight horses have managed to win this race on more than one occasion – Enable (2017 and 2018), Treve (2013 and 2014), Alleged (1977 and 1978), Ribot (1955 and 1956), Tantieme (1950, 1951), Corrida (1936 and 1937), Motrico (1930 and 1932) and Ksar (1921 and 1922). Alleged was the great grandson of the Tesio-bred Ribot and both had vicious tempers and were almost unmanageable. Motrico was the oldest horse to win, at seven years of age in 1932.Horses foaled in Ireland have a great record in the race, and three-year-old colts have the best strike-rate. When Zarkava won the race in 2008 she was the first filly to win in 15 years and then retired undefeated after 7 wins. Fillies Danedream (2011), Solemia (2012), Treve (2013 and 2014) and Enable (2017 and 2018) have won since then. The most successful trainer is Andre Fabre with seven winners from 1987 to 2006. In 2016 Aidan O’Brien trained first.second and third. Arc winners are always sought after at stud.