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Longchamp Racecourse has been playing host to top-class horseracing in the French capital of Paris since the mid-19th century. Today, this vast facility spans 57 hectares across the Bois de Boulogne and offers one of Europe's stiffest flat racing tests. It's also one of the most picturesque settings for a racecourse, with magnificent vantage points across the River Seine.
It all began in 1857 when Emperor Napoleon III and his wife, Eugenie, were invited to witness the inaugural competitive horse race at Longchamp. Due to the racecourse's location, it was common for racegoers within urban Paris to visit Longchamp via steamboat. The Seine provided direct access via the river, with all kinds of vessels eventually offering excursions to Longchamp for a race meeting.
Horse races were originally staged at the Champ de Mars back in 1833. However, the creation of Longchamp's venue quickly curried favour with Parisians due to its proximity to central Paris and the Seine.
A certain romance surrounds Longchamp Racecourse, which may be due to its appearance in a string of iconic paintings. Most notably, Manet's 1867' Races at Longchamp' scene depicts the infamous hill that still provides a gruelling test of stamina for thoroughbreds today.
In 1871, Edgar Degas also followed suit with a renowned action scene of his own titled 'Race Horses at Longchamp'.
Longchamp rapidly positioned France at the epicentre of the horseracing industry alongside the burgeoning British industry. However, this was soon put to the test by the Siege of Paris in 1870 and the subsequent Franco-Prussian War.
Racing at Longchamp was a permanent fixture once again by the early 20th century, although the First World War saw all races postponed through this period. At the time of the postponement, Longchamp had two headline races on its calendar – the Prix du Conseil Municipal and the Grand Prix de Paris.
The French racing committee opted to launch a new event akin to the Prix du Conseil Municipal, which took place for the first time in 1920. The key differentiator was that the new Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe wouldn't feature weight penalties for entrants.
The race has now been enjoyed by locals and tourists alike for more than a century, and it remains the highlight on Longchamp's calendar.
Staged on the first Saturday of October, this Group 1 race has received global interest over the years. That's largely thanks to the improved ability to keep track of major race meetings in France via the comprehensive lists of horse racing results found online, which cover not just UK and Irish racing but horseracing in France, America, the Middle East and Asia too.
The' Arc', as it is colloquially known in horseracing circles, has cemented its place as the most popular all-aged horse race on the planet. It's also the second richest horse race in the world. In 2022, its prize purse totalled €5 million, with the winner scooping well over half of that loot.
There's so much about Longchamp Racecourse that continues to fascinate racegoers.
Did you know that it's not just one racecourse? It is, in fact, a venue where four different courses link together. For example, a 1,000m track is set within the centre of the racecourse.
Meanwhile, Longchamp's facilities have undergone significant renovation in recent decades. It now has a total capacity of 50,000+ on race days, with the two-year-long €150m overhaul in 2016-18 bringing Longchamp's grandstand and hospitality facilities firmly into the 21st century.
In doing so, Longchamp Racecourse has also become a popular venue for other events outside of horse racing. It staged the popular Lollapalooza Music Festival and gigs for individual bands. Iconic British rock gods The Rolling Stones appeared here recently in 2022, 27 years after their first appearance during the Voodoo Lounge tour.
As with everything, times change, and things move on, but although Longchamp is trying hard to remain a state-of-the-art racing venue, it's determined not to let go of its tradition.
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