First Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

Background. The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris over a distance of 2,400 metres. The race is scheduled to take place each year in the autumn, usually on the first Sunday in October. The event's origins are linked to the 1863 launch of the Grand Prix de Paris by the Société d'Encouragement.

Venue. Longchamp Racecourse is a 57-hectare horse-racing facility located on the Route des Tribunes at the Bois de Boulogne in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. It is used for flat racing and is noted for its variety of interlaced tracks and a famous hill that provides a real challenge to competing thoroughbreds. The race is run at this venue over a distance of 2,400 metres.

Origins. The Société d'Encouragement, a former governing body of French racing, initially restricted its races to thoroughbreds born and bred in France. In 1863, it launched the Grand Prix de Paris, an event designed to bring together the best three-year-olds from any country. This marked a significant change in the scope of French racing events, expanding participation beyond domestic horses.