NYRA & Longchamp team up for all G1 Trans-Atlantic Pick 4

by Najja Thompson

NYRA partners with FOX Sports, Claiborne Farm to present live TV coverage of the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, G1 Prix de l'Opera

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will partner with France Galop and Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) on Sunday, October 7 to offer an all G1 Trans-Atlantic Pick 4, highlighted by the Group 1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe from ParisLongchamp and a pair of prestigious Grade 1 races from Belmont Park.

The first cross-continental Pick 4 in NYRA's fall series of special Pick 4 wagers, the Trans-Atlantic Pick 4 includes the Grade 1, $500,000 Flower Bowl and Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette from Belmont Park along with the Group 1, €5,000,000 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Group 1, €500,000 Prix de l'Opera Longines from Longchamp.

The multi-race wager, hosted by NYRA, will feature a 50-cent minimum with a 24 percent takeout. The sequence will start with the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe carded as Race 4 from Longchamp with a local post time of 10:05 a.m. ET. followed by Race 5, the G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines with a local post time of 10:50 a.m.

Later Sunday, the Trans-Atlantic Pick 4 moves to Belmont for the G1 Frizette for juvenile fillies and the G1 Flower Bowl for fillies and mares 3-years-old on the turf, both Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" automatic qualifiers.

Contested at a distance of 1½ miles, the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was named the world's greatest horse race at the Longines World's Best Horse Race Awards Ceremony in 2017 and is France's richest and most distinguished thoroughbred race, anchoring the biggest weekend of flat racing in France.

"This is an unprecedented endeavor and we're happy to partner with France Galop and the PMU to combine two of the premier international races in the world with the Grade 1 Frizette and Flower Bowl from Belmont Park to offer this Trans-Atlantic G1 stakes wager to horseplayers," said Martin Panza, NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations.

NYRA will partner with FOX Sports to broadcast nationwide coverage of both the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Prix de l'Opera Longines. Hosted by Greg Wolf with racing analysis by Maggie Wolfendale and special guest trainer Christophe Clement, the 90-minute telecast will air at 9:30 am ET on Sunday, October 7 with limited commercial interruption made possible by Claiborne Farm.

"We are grateful NYRA and FOX Sports give us the opportunity to show what we do best to American racing fans," said Olivier Delloye, Director General of France Galop. "French and American racing and breeding institutions are linked by historical, cultural and commercial bonds and we very much appreciate this special feature bet to remind us of our common background."

Advance wagering on the Trans-Atlantic Pick 4 will open on Saturday, October 6 and will be available through NYRA Bets, on track, ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. In addition, Equibase Past-Performances for the entire Longchamp card for Sunday, October 7 and the Trans-Atlantic Pick 4 will be made available on NYRABets.com on Saturday, October 6.

"Horseracing is a truly global sport and PMU is proud to partner with NYRA to launch a ground breaking new bet. We believe that the Trans-Atlantic Pick 4 will inspire more cooperation and innovation between major racing nations, creating exciting and challenging betting opportunities for horseplayers," said Aymeric Verlet, International Director of the French PMU.

For more information on the Trans-Atlantic Pick 4 and other Cross Country wagers NYRA is offering this fall, please visit NYRA.com/CrossCountry.

Belmont Park / Longchamp Trans-Atlantic Pick 4 on Sunday, October 7:
Leg 1 - Longchamp, G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (10:05 a.m. ET)
Leg 2 - Longchamp, G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines (10:50 a.m. ET)
Leg 3 - Belmont Park, G1 Frizette / G1 Flower (TBD)
Leg 4 - Belmont Park, G1 Frizette / G1 Flower Bowl (TBD)