France Galop have announced that prize money for the country’s flagship Arc
meeting will be increased by €865,000 in
2012. In a move to counter the new threat of British Champions’ Day, the French
authority has made a special case of the two-day festival at Longchamp with a
general 5 percent rise in prize money throughout the season.
President Edouard de Rothschild revealed that the Qatar Racing and Equestrian
Club has extended its sponsorship of the prestige weekend, with the Group 1 Prix
de l’Arc de Triomphe purse rising from its current
€4 million to €5.3 million by 2018.
“This extension of Qatar’s sponsorship is intended, in particular, to face up
to the risk of competition from British Champions’ Day at Ascot and strengthens
significantly the prize-money of all Group races on Arc weekend,” a France Galop
statement read.
It was also announced that with the support of Longines, the Group 1 Prix de
Diane would be worth €1 million next year.