51°24′43.8″N 0°40′45.3″W / 51.412167°N 0.679250°W / 51.412167; -0.679250
41-509: The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles 3 furlongs and 210 yards (4,014 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June. It is Britain's most prestigious event for "stayers" – horses which specialise in racing over long distances. It is traditionally held on the third day of
82-524: A handicap (expecting the European Free Handicap ), may not be divided into two or more divisions, may not have a standard entry fee exceeding 2% of the purse, must be open to geldings (excepting Group 1 races restricted to two- or three-year-olds), and must have a permanent element in the title. In addition, Group 1 races may only have sex and weight-for-age allowances, with no other weight penalties. France, Germany, Great Britain, and Ireland are
123-559: A comprehensive Pattern of black type races with an emphasis on high-class, non-handicap races, limited in number and spread throughout the season to encourage the best horses to face each other. With the general principles laid out, Lord Porchester headed a further committee in 1967 to identify specific races, both in Britain and in other countries. By the late 1960s, a state of crisis had developed with regards to international racing in Europe. At
164-604: A list of Principal Races that qualified for black type. By the mid-1980s, international agreement had been made that all graded/group races would qualify for black type designation. In 1985, concern was raised regarding a lack of opportunity to earn black type in North American compared to Europe due to the lower percentage of stakes races. This led to the development of ungraded or non-listed black type races in North America. In 1985, unrestricted allowance or handicap races with
205-625: A minimum for the race's age/sex division, or it loses black type status. From 1971 to 1984, the top three finishers in a Graded/Group race were granted black type status. In 1985, this was expanded to the top four finishers in Graded/Group races and the top three finishers in qualified races in North America. Starting in 1989, races in Part III countries were no longer recognized as black type and rules were amended so that only in Group/Grade 1 races were
246-480: A purse of $ 30,000 or greater were given black type status and designated with a Q for Qualified Race. Other added money or black type races were designated with an O or OR. In 1986, new rules for black type status in North American races were drawn up, defining listed stakes with purses of $ 50,000 or more and other added-money stakes with purses of $ 15,000 (raised to $ 20,000 in 1987) to $ 49,999. The minimum purse to qualify for black type status for other added-money stakes
287-551: A race, it's a monument". The Prix is sponsored by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, as part of Qatar's international soft power policy . The Société d'Encouragement, a former governing body of French racing, had 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. Thirty years later it introduced
328-595: 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 , France , over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles) and scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October. Popularly referred to as the "Arc", it is the world's most prestigious all-aged horse race. Its roll of honour features many highly acclaimed horses, and its winners are often subsequently regarded as champions. It
369-473: Is currently the world's seventh-richest turf race and tenth richest horse race on any surface, with a purse of €5,000,000. Over 60,000 visitors attend the "Arc"-Weekend every year and the race itself is broadcast live to 50 countries all over the globe. A slogan of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, first used on a promotional poster in 2003, describes the event as " Ce n'est pas une course, c'est un monument " – "It's not
410-622: Is printed in bold type in sales catalogues. The International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee (IRPAC), part of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), enforces quality standards for the designation of group and graded races internationally. The Group race system divides races into one of four categories, based on their prestige and quality. Group/Grade 1 The highest level, for races with major international importance considered to be of championship standard, including Classics . Examples include
451-626: Is the accepted authority for Group and Listed status in Australia. In Europe the designation of flat races is agreed by the European Pattern Committee. The Committee grades races depending on the average official ratings achieved by the first four finishers in a race over a three-year period. There is no minimum purse money across Europe. The breakdown is as follows: Under the European Pattern, Group and Listed races may not be run as
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#1733092590999492-633: Is the accepted authority for Group and Listed status in the United Arab Emirates. The designation of graded status for jumps races is determined by individual countries. Among countries that run recognized jump races, the Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, and the United States recognize some sort of Group/Grade status for jump races. Prix de l%27Arc de Triomphe The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
533-628: The Crimean War . It was taken by thieves on 18 June 1907. The theft was never solved, but a replacement was finished by August. Mark Twain , the American humorist, came to London about that time, and was much amused by the twin headlines appearing in The Times : MARK TWAIN ARRIVES ASCOT GOLD CUP STOLEN The Gold Cup is the first leg of Britain's Stayers' Triple Crown , followed by the Goodwood Cup and
574-973: The Doncaster Cup . The last horse to win all three races in the same year was Stradivarius in 2019. The Gold Cup is one of three perpetual trophies at the Royal Ascot meeting, along with the Royal Hunt Cup and the Queen's Vase , which can be kept permanently by the winning owners. A number of horses have won it more than once, and the most successful is Yeats , who recorded his fourth victory in 2009. Most successful horse (4 wins): Other multiple winners: 3 wins Other multiple winners: 2 wins Leading jockey (11 wins): Leading trainer (9 wins): Leading owner (9 wins): (includes part ownership) Group races Group races , also known as Pattern races , or Graded races in some jurisdictions, are
615-679: The Hippodrome de Longchamp the 2016 and 2017 editions of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe took place in Chantilly . Most successful horse (2 wins): Leading jockey (6 wins): Leading trainer (8 wins): Leading owner (6 wins): Fastest winning time – Found (2016), 2m 23.61s (at Chantilly) Widest winning margin – Ribot (1956), Sea Bird (1965) and Sakhee (2001), 6 lengths Oldest winning horse – Motrico (1932), aged 7 years Most runners – 30, in 1967 Fewest runners – 7, in 1941 Cadum finished first in 1925, but he
656-785: The Jockey Club of Canada established the Canadian Graded Stakes Committee to take over the task. In 2012, the North American International Cataloging Standards Committee announced the implementation of additional quality control requirements for non-listed black type races in North America. The Organización Sudamericana de Fomento del Sangre Pura de Carrera (OSAF) oversees the grading of stakes races in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. The Asian Pattern Committee
697-538: The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe , Kentucky Derby , Melbourne Cup , Japan Cup , and Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini . Group/Grade 2 Races that have significant international importance, but are below a championship standard. Examples include the Doncaster Cup , Black-Eyed Susan Stakes , Sandown Guineas , Daily Hai Nisai Stakes , and Grande Prêmio Bento Gonçalves . Group/Grade 3 Other races of note, mainly of national rather than international importance. Examples include
738-502: The Prix du Conseil Municipal , an international race for the leading horses of different age groups. It was run over 2,400 metres in October, with weights determined by a horse's previous performances. The creation of a third such race was proposed at a committee meeting on 24 January 1920. The new event would complement the Grand Prix de Paris and serve as a showcase for French thoroughbred breeding. It would have similar characteristics to
779-576: The Royal Whip Stakes , British Columbia Derby , Hawkesbury Gold Cup , and Challenge Cup . Listed Races below the standard of graded or group races, but still run by horses of notable merit and performance quality. In 1943, Lord Ilchester 's Racing Reorganisation Committee first proposed the idea of a planned racing program for Great Britain. This idea was returned to in 1965, when the Duke of Norfolk 's Pattern of Racing Committee proposed formalizing
820-642: The Sha Tin Racecourse . The Asian Pattern Committee is the accepted authority for Group and Listed status in Japan, and the Japanese Graded Stakes Committee monitors and approves the grading system. All Japan Racing Association (JRA) graded stakes were opened to foreign-trained horses in 2010. In the United States and Canada, the equivalent are known as graded stakes races . The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) manages
861-572: The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) began a project grading North American stakes races and American races were first designated with graded designations, mirroring group designations in Europe. The categorical system stakes races began to spread to other countries, with Germany and Italy soon joining Great Britain, France, and Ireland in the European Pattern, Brazil starting to designate group races in 1975, Australia introducing group races in 1976, New Zealand doing
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#1733092590999902-524: The "Arc" and its supporting races. By the 1970s, however, the assistance of the lottery had diminished, and the system was finally discontinued after the 1982 running. Since then the "Arc" has had several sponsors, including Trusthouse Forte , CIGA Hotels and Groupe Lucien Barrière . The present sponsor of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) as part of Qatar's international soft power policy. The sponsorship agreement
943-745: The ARB is accepted by the International Cataloguing Standards Committee (ICSC) for publication by The Jockey Club (US) in The Blue Book , thus providing international recognition for Australia's best races. Minimum purse values for group races in Australia are as follows: Australia has a total of approximately 540 to 550 Group races from a season total of almost 21,000 races. These races were collectively known as Principal Races until about 1979. Handicap races in Australia are eligible for group status. The Asian Pattern Committee
984-484: The American Graded Stakes Committee, which manages the determination of black type and grading of races in the United States. Minimum purse requirements for races are as follows: Graded races may be run in divisions (so long as the total purse among all the divisions is at least 150% that of the original purse) and may be handicaps. From 1973 to 1997, TOBA also graded Canadian races, but in 1998
1025-504: The Pattern are gradual and evolutionary, thereby giving the racing industry time to adjust. In particular, the current European Pattern Committee "Ground Rules" explicitly state that no race may be upgraded by more than one Group in any one year. Great Britain has minimum purse values for some group races, as follows: There are 31 Group races held in Hong Kong . All group 1 races were held in
1066-503: The Prix du Conseil Municipal, but each horse would compete on equal terms, unpenalised for previous victories. Coming in the wake of World War I, it was decided that the race would be named after the Arc de Triomphe , a famous monument which had been the scene of a victory parade by the Allies in 1919. The chosen title had been previously assigned to a minor event at Longchamp. Another suggested title
1107-460: The Royal Ascot meeting, which is known colloquially (but not officially) as Ladies' Day. Contrary to popular belief, the actual title of the race does not include the word "Ascot". The event was established in 1807, and it was originally open to horses aged three or older. The inaugural winner, Master Jackey, was awarded prize money of 100 guineas . The first race took place in the presence of King George III and Queen Charlotte . The 1844 running
1148-760: The United States Graded Stakes Committee granted the seven new Breeders' Cup races Grade 1 status, despite having never been run before, an unprecedented move. In 2015, the Commonwealth Cup became the first new race inaugurated with Group 1 status in the history of the European Pattern. In 1952, for their sales catalogs, Fasig-Tipton began to designate stakes winners in a pedigree using bold-face type, with winners in all caps and stakes-placed runners in mixed case, in an attempt to show buyers and breeders horses and races of note. Keeneland followed suit in 1960. In 1963, Blood Horse published
1189-560: The first edition of Cataloguing Standards for foreign racing. Two years later, the Jockey Club Statistical Bureau took over publication. The International Cataloguing Standards Committee (ICSC) and Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers (SITA) later defined more precisely specific races in which horses could earn black type. In 1971, the Australian Conference of Principal Race Clubs (ACPRC) developed
1230-921: The highest level of races in Thoroughbred horse racing . They include most of the world's iconic races, such as the Derby , Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Europe , the Melbourne Cup in Australia , and the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup races in the United States . Victory in these races marks a horse as being particularly talented, if not exceptional, and they are extremely important in determining stud values. They are also sometimes referred to as Black type races, since any horse that has won one of these races
1271-410: The increase in international racing. British, French, and Irish authorities met in 1970 to discuss developing a Pattern race system, and in 1971 the European Pattern Committee was established and the first European Pattern published. European authorities began to push North American jurisdictions to develop a similar system designating prominent races to promote international competition. In 1973,
Ascot Gold Cup - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-563: The member countries of the European Pattern Committee, with Italy, Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), and Turkey as associate members. The pattern system, overseen by the European Pattern Committee, is fluid and the Group status of key races can change. By this method, the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot was upgraded from Group 2 to Group 1 in the year 2000. However, a number of checks and balances are in place which ensure that changes to
1353-475: The same in 1979, and Japan implementing a graded race structure in 1984, among other countries. In 1983, the International Cataloguing Standards Committee (ICSC) and Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers were created and the first International Cataloguing Standards Booklet was published, with the objective of preventing discrepancies and imbalances in the designation of Group or Grade and black type status among different jurisdictions. In 1984,
1394-407: The time, weight penalties were determined by the amount of money won. French races were significantly richer than those in other European countries, resulting in complaints that many important French races were being "plundered" by foreign horses carrying less weight. Pressure was being applied to restrict races to only horses trained in France in order to prevent this, which would have greatly hampered
1435-594: The top four finishers granted black type. The following year, the rules were once again amended, so that only the top three finishers in black type races are granted black type status. The recognition of the black type status of jump races is based on regional preference. In Australia , the Australian Pattern Committee recommends to the Australian Racing Board (ARB) which races shall be designated as Group races. The list of races approved by
1476-410: Was attended by Nicholas I of Russia , who was making a state visit to England. That year's winner was unnamed at the time of his victory, but he was given the name "The Emperor" in honour of the visiting monarch. In return Nicholas offered a new trophy for the race — the "Emperor's Plate" — and this became the title of the event for a short period. Its original name was restored after nine years, during
1517-471: Was first used in 1936, and it continued until 1938. The "Arc" was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. It was run at Le Tremblay with a distance of 2,300 metres in 1943 and 1944. Government funding of the race resumed in 1949, with money obtained through the Loterie Nationale. Offering an attractive jackpot of 50 million francs, this enabled a rapid increase of the prizes for both
1558-654: Was raised to $ 25,000 starting in 1990. Over the years, the minimum purse for black type status in North American races has increased, and is $ 50,000 as of 2023. In 2012, the North American ICSC introduced a scoring system to determine whether or not non-listed stakes should be granted black type. Since 2014, each race is assigned a Race Quality Score (RQS), based on speed figures for the top four finishers with data from Bloodstock Research Information Services (BRIS), Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form , Equibase, and Thoro-Graph. The three-year average RQS must meet
1599-435: Was relegated to second place for hampering Priori. The 1943 and 1944 editions were run at Le Tremblay over 2,300 metres. Midnight Sun dead-heated for first in 1959, but he was placed second for hampering Saint Crespin. Sagace finished first in 1985, but he was demoted to second for bumping Rainbow Quest. The 2016 and 2017 runnings took place at Chantilly while Longchamp
1640-601: Was signed in Doha in 2008, and as a result the prize fund was doubled from €2 million to €4 million. Now, the prize for the Arc is worth €5 000 000 which makes it the richest flat race on turf. Arc Weekend now includes seven races classed at Group 1 level, and four with Group 2 status. It also features the Arabian World Cup , the world's richest race for purebred Arabian horses with €1 000 000 prize-money. Due to renovations at
1681-401: Was the "Prix de la Victoire". The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was first run on Sunday 3 October 1920. The inaugural running was won by Comrade , a three-year-old colt owned by Evremond de Saint-Alary . The winner's prize was 150,000 francs. In 1935, the event secured state funding by the means of a lottery , which awarded prizes according to the race result and the drawing of lots. The system