HANDICAPPING THE PRIX DE L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE

Once you understand the unique characteristics of this race you can start formulating a strategy to bet on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The overwhelming majority of race winners have come from England, Ireland or France. 84 of the 92 all time winners of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe came from these countries. A US bred horse has never won the race. In recent years a growing number of Japanese bred horses have competed in the event and they'll likely produce the next non English/Irish/French winner.

THE WEIGHT HANDICAP IS KEY

As noted earlier, the weight handicap plays a very important part in Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting. This has been especially true in recent years as the last three winners have been three year old fillies who enjoy a 10 pound advantage over the older males in the field. This looks to be a trend to keep an eye on going forward. A filly hadn't won in fifteen years until 2008 when Zarkava won as a three year old. That means that four of the last six races have been won by three year old fillies. The other two races in that stretch have been won by three year old colts. That strongly suggests that the weight handicap is very significant and the focus should be on three year old horses of both genders over more experienced and accomplished older males.

FORM IS ALSO IMPORTANT

Despite the apparent advantage to younger horses in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe don't expect an unknown to come out of nowhere and compete. The last 13 winners of the race had at least one Group 1 race victory and had raced within the past 50 days. Well over 80% of the winners in that timeframe won their last time out. Experience at the distance is also key and over 80% of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winners in the past twenty years had a previous victory at a distance of a mile and a half or greater.