French Derby To Go To Ten Furlongs !

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ardross
  • Start date Start date
Maybe I should have started a new thread instead of digging up an old one just to avoid confusion! :D
 
Jesus H. Wotsit - 2004! How the hell has something lasted this long with Ardross?? :eek:

Sorry, folks - I don't usually look to see whether someone's post is three years past before responding! Okay, in that case - where the feck are you, Graham?
 
The drop in distance of the French Derby was part of a package of changes agreed by the European Pattern Committee that included upping the distance of the Grand Prix de Paris from 10f to 12f and staging it two weeks after the Irish Derby.

For the time being the Grand Prix prize fund is limited as part of the deal to EUR 500k but the Committee could hardly prevent a sponsor from stepping in to increase its value. It would then become a threat to the Irish Derby's strategic position as the last of the major Derbies.

If that happens the French Derby would be the top 3-y-o 10f race in Europe and the Grand Prix de Paris the deciding 12f race, and then of course there is the Arc. Not a bad triple crown for classic French colts, who would never have to leave France, while drawing in even more British and Irish runners than heretofore.

Clever, eh?
 
Originally posted by Triptych@Mar 5 2007, 08:53 PM
The Italian Oaks has now been reduced in distance from 11 furlongs to 10 and has also dropped from a Group 1 to a Group 2. Not as significant a move as reducing the French Derby distance but yet another step along that same path.
Click to expand...
And this year, the Italian Derby is to be run over 11f, with a date in early May...
 
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