The October Yearling Sale Criterium, a €250,000 race restricted to graduates of Arqana's October Yearling Sale, will be staged for the first time on Arc weekend in 2017 after receiving approval from France Galop. The race will be restricted to 2-year-old colts, fillies and geldings.
“The launch of the October Yearling Sale Criterium pursues two objectives, which Arqana and France Galop have in common: to upgrade the owner experience by making it accessible to a wider audience, and to support French breeding,” said Arqana Chairman Eric Hoyeau. “The October Yearling Sale is the primary market for the production of French flat horses, and the prospect of taking part in a race with great prize money during the best weekend of racing in the French calendar will prove a substantial incentive for many French and European buyers. This dynamic will benefit all French breeders. The prize money will be guaranteed by Arqana and we are delighted to provide support in this way to the development of racehorse ownership in France.”
Prize money will be paid out to eighth place as follows: €125,000 for first; €65,000 for second; €35,000 for third; €15,000 for fourth; and €2,500 for fifth through eighth.
Vendors will pay €250 at the time of entry to make their sales yearlings eligible for the race, and the new owner will have two €250 declaration stages plus a €500 final entry stage, meaning an owner will pay a maximum of €1,000 to make their horse eligible.
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