Raiders Of The Last Arc

The BBC has signed a one-year deal to cover Europe’s greatest all-age middle distance race, the Prix del’Arc de Triomphe, in Paris in early October, but the minimum term contract has racing fans wondering if this will be the last time the great event will be shown on terrestrial television, writes Elliot Slater.

In view of the extensive coverage given to Sea The Stars’ majestic romp to glory in the race in 2009, there had been some hope that the Arc had been given a new lease of life by the powers that be at the Beeb.

However, with cutbacks across the board and racing a low priority in the general sporting scheme of things, this could be the last time licence payers foot the bill for coverage of the Parisian event. The broadcasting of the event on BBC2 instead of BBC1 also hints at the lack of priority given to the race. Those interested in Group 1 horse racing tips should be very concerned.

Channel 4, who earlier this year announced major cutbacks to their coverage of horseracing in the UK, are in no position to step into the breach, so unless one of the digital sports networks feels it worth taking a chance on bolstering racing, this could well prove to be the end of the road for a race that has provided British racing fans with such outstanding memories over the decades.

Dancing Brave’s surge to victory on the outside of the field in the 1986 renewal will live long in the memory, as will last year’s sensational change of gear shown by Sea the Stars under an ice-cool ride from Mick Kinane, to destroy a top class field and win his sixth Group 1 in as many months. Fans of racing tips will be hoping for another exciting renewal this year.

I suggest you savour every moment of the 2010 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. It may be the last we see on terrestrial television for a very long time.

Tags: arc, bbc, broadcast, coverage, horse racing, News, Prix del'Arc de Triomphe, televisionShare