It’s a debate that has rumbled on for years, but now the decision has finally been made. From 2027, geldings will be allowed to run in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after France Galop’s board voted on Monday to remove one of the race’s longest-standing restrictions.
There is still one final hurdle to clear, with France required to formally request the rule change at a full meeting of the European Pattern Committee.
However, it would be a major surprise if any of Europe’s leading racing nations opposed the move. In reality, the decision simply brings France’s most prestigious race into line with many of the continent’s other elite contests.
Geldings To Get Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Green Light (from 2027)
In recent years, the Arc has become something of an outlier.
It has remained one of the few all-aged Group 1 races in Europe still restricted to colts, fillies and mares. Since the Prix du Moulin was opened to geldings in 2020, only the Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques le Marois has continued to operate under similar restrictions within the French Pattern.
There will be no change for this year’s renewal, however.
Entries for the 2026 Arc at ParisLongchamp on October 4 closed last month, meaning the revised conditions will not come into effect until 2027.
French racing publication Jour de Galop first reported news of the France Galop board’s landmark decision.
Goliath and Calandagan Could Now Run In The Arc…….But Not This Season
The campaign to allow geldings into the Arc has gathered serious momentum over the past couple of years, largely because of the exploits of French middle-distance ‘big guns’ Goliath and Calandagan.
Both horses, trained by Francis Graffard in Chantilly, were denied the opportunity to run in France’s biggest race because they had already been gelded.
Calandagan finished 2025 as the Longines World’s Best Racehorse and, unable to contest the Arc, embarked on an international campaign that included appearances in Dubai, Britain and Japan, with just one run on home soil when landing the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
Godolphin’s Rebel’s Romance offers another example. The hugely successful gelding has travelled the world in search of top-level prizes, winning Group 1 races in Dubai, Hong Kong, the United States and Germany.
If he remains in training, Calandagan could finally get his chance in the Arc in 2027 as a six-year-old.
WATCH: Calandagan Winning The Sheema Classic In 2026
Traditionally, Europe’s Group 1 races for two- and three-year-olds have been restricted to colts and fillies, reflecting their role in identifying future breeding stock.
Yet while races such as the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the British Champion Stakes and the Irish Champion Stakes have long been open to geldings, France Galop maintained that both the Arc and the Prix Jacques le Marois continued to serve an important breeding purpose.
The issue remains one of the sport’s most divisive topics.
Trainers, owners and veterinary experts remain split on whether gelding a horse provides physical or psychological advantages, and those divisions have also been reflected inside the France Galop boardroom, where opinion has been deeply divided for some time.
Which Horse Won The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Last Year (2025)?
The 2025 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was won by the French-bred three-year-old Daryz, who produced a thrilling late surge at ParisLongchamp to deny hot favourite Minnie Hauk by a head.
Racing in the famous green and red colours of the Aga Khan Studs, Daryz provided both jockey Mickaël Barzalona and trainer Francis-Henri Graffard with their first victories in Europe’s most prestigious race.
The emotional success came just months after the death of Aga Khan IV and delivered a record eighth Arc victory for the legendary breeding and racing operation.
WATCH: Daryz Winning The 2025 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Who Is The 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Favourite?
Unsurprisingly, defending champion Daryz heads the betting for the 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and is generally available at around 3/1 or 4/1.
The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained colt is attempting to become the first horse since Enable to win back-to-back Arcs, having continued his excellent form during his four-year-old campaign with impressive performances at ParisLongchamp over shorter distances.
Close behind in the market is Minnie Hauk.
Aidan O’Brien’s filly was agonisingly denied by a head in last year’s race and is widely available at around 8/1 to 10/1 to gain revenge.
Stablemate Constitution River also features prominently in the ante-post betting, while the progressive three-year-old Thundering On, winner of this season’s Epsom Oaks, has attracted plenty of support at around 7/1.
With several proven Group 1 performers set to line up, the 2026 renewal is already shaping up to be one of the strongest Arcs in recent years.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 2026 Date
The 2026 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe takes place on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at ParisLongchamp.
The prestigious Arc weekend begins the previous day, with Saturday, October 3 featuring a high-quality supporting card before Europe’s richest race takes centre stage on the first Sunday in October.
