2020 Horse Racing - 2020 Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe

[twogunsid]

Enable tried for her 3rd Arc in 4 attempts. Heavy ground did her in. Farewell to one of the greatest mare's ever. Have good retirement girl!

[BlueMTexpat]

1. I watched this and was sad

that she wasn't even in the top three.

It would have been a wonderful finale for her. She's given so much pleasure over the years. She'll now have a well-deserved rest from racing and will - hopefully - produce more champions.

At first I was sad to see that Love was withdrawn from the race because of the heavy ground. But I think that Aidan O'Brien made the right call. What was sad for him and his sons was that most of their other horses also had to be withdrawn from races at Longchamp today because of concerns about contaminated feed.

But one of the great stories of the day was Jessica Marcialis's win on Tiger Tanaka in the Prix Marcel Boussac. She became the first woman jockey to win a Group One race in France. She is also a mother. Her partner was the horse's trainer, so receiving the trophy was a real family affair. https://www.bbc.com/sport/horse-racing/54408337

[twogunsid]

2. It was a greaat day at Longchamps...

...Tiger Tanaka is so fun to root for.

I think the soft ground got her today and that bump by Stradivarius in the stretch contributed to her not placing. I hear rumors Gosden is thinking about the bc turf. In some ways I hope that is not true. I want her to retire sound and happy and go be a mom.

[BlueMTexpat]

3. She was also boxed in and couldn't really break through.

It was a heartbreaking day for her fans!

I really thought that this was her last race. But per this Guardian article, you are indeed correct about rumors of one more.

... As yet, then, there is no official confirmation that Enable has been retired to the paddocks, but this was a tough race in defeat and options for her now are, in any case, probably limited to the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Keeneland in Kentucky. And since Enable took the Turf at nearby Churchill Downs two years ago – the only Arc winner ever to follow up at the meeting – she has nothing at all left to prove.
...

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/oct/04/sottsass-wins-a-rough-prix-de-larc-de-triomphe-for-france-with-enable-unplaced-horse-racing