Arc purse doubled with new sponsor

Photo: Vanessa NGThe Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club will begin a fiveyear sponsorship of the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2008; the race’s purse has been upped to 4 million Euro. That is approximately $5.8 million at current exchange rates, making the 2400-meter Arc the second-richest race in the world in 2008, behind only the G1 Dubai World Cup. The QREC will also sponsor the weekend of racing at Longchamp surrounding the signature autumn race. As a result of the sponsorship, France Galop will offer a 350,000 Euro race for Arabians on Arc Day. The Arc had been sponsored by Groupe Lucien Barriere since 1999, but that relationship expired this year.