The Arqana Series, a five-race series worth €1.2 million and reserved for colts and fillies offered by the sales company, was launched on Wednesday. The races will be held during the August Meeting at Deauville and the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend at ParisLongchamp, beginning in 2023. Criteria for the races are as follows:
- Three 2-year-old races will take place during an evening meeting on the Thursday before the August Yearling Sale at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse including two for unraced juveniles;
- A 2-year-old race on the Saturday of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend;
- And from 2024, the programme will be further added to with a race for 3-year-olds, that will also be held on the Thursday at Deauville.
Yearlings offered during Arqana's 2022 August, September, October and November sales will be the first crop eligible to participate in the new series.
Eric Hoyeau, President of Arqana, said, “Very much appreciated since its first edition in 2017, the objectives of the Arqana Criterium were to enhance the “owner experience” and to support French breeding. As an auction house, these two subjects are particularly important to us and it is essential for us to continue in this direction, by extending this event with a real programme of richly-endowed races. We are therefore delighted to have succeeded in creating the Arqana Series, after a long period of reflection and discussion with France Galop.
“The four races organised on the Thursday before the August Yearling Sale will create even more synergy between the sales and the meeting and will contribute to the new event dimension of the sale. As both events attract an international audience, this evening meeting on Deauville's floodlit track will also be a unique opportunity to promote our French racing system to many owners. We have also chosen to keep the 2-year-old race on the Saturday of the Arc, meaning that connections could have a runner on one of the most beautiful international race weekends.”
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