Arcangues (pronounced ''ar-KONG'') (foaled March 12, 1988–October 2006) was a French

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic pr ...

and sire. He won the Group 1

Prix d'Ispahan The Prix d'Ispahan is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,850 metres (about 1 mile and 1¼ furlongs), and ...

Prix du Prince d'Orange The Prix du Prince d'Orange is a group-3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to ...

Prix Eugène Adam The Prix Eugène Adam is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Maisons-Laffitte over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1 miles), and it is scheduled to ta ...

and

John Henry Handicap The John Henry Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California from 1986 through 1994. A Graded stakes race, Grade II event open to horses age three and older, it was contest on Gr ...

, but is most famous for winning the 1993

Breeders' Cup Classic The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3-year-olds and older run at a distance of on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships in late October o ...

as a tremendous longshot, a victory that has been called one of the biggest upsets in horse racing history.

Background

The son of owner

Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Leopold Wildenstein (11 September 1917 – 23 October 2001) was a French art dealer, historian and owner-breeder of thoroughbred race horses. He was the third member of the family to preside over Wildenstein & Co., one of the most succes ...

's 1984

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France, over a distance ...

winner

Sagace Sagace (1980–1989) was a French Thoroughbred champion racehorse. His sire Luthier had been the Leading sire in France in 1976. Trained by Patrick Biancone and ridden by Yves St. Martin for prominent owner/breeder Daniel Wildenstein, at age t ...

, he was given the name of the village of

Arcangues Arcangues (; ) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France in what was formerly the Basque province of Labourd. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Arcanguais'' or ''Ar ...

in the

Pyrénées-Atlantiques Pyrénées-Atlantiques (; Gascon Occitan: ''Pirenèus Atlantics''; eu, Pirinio Atlantiarrak or ) is a department in the southwest corner of France and of the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Named after the Pyrenees mountain range and the Atlanti ...

departement of the

Aquitaine Aquitaine ( , , ; oc, Aquitània ; eu, Akitania; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Aguiéne''), archaic Guyenne or Guienne ( oc, Guiana), is a historical region of southwestern France and a former administrative region of the country. Since 1 January ...

region.

Racing career

Arcangues had raced only on grass in Europe before being sent to

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

to compete on the dirt track at

Santa Anita Park Santa Anita Park is a Thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent horse racing events in the United States during early fall, winter and in spring. The track is home to numerous prestigious races ...

in the 1993

. Despite big wins in the Group 1

(over champion

Hatoof Hatoof (born January 26, 1989 in Versailles, Kentucky) is a Thoroughbred Champion racehorse who competed internationally out of a base in Chantilly, France under trainer Criquette Head for owner Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Racing at a ...

(over champion Arazi) and

, Bettors sent the horse off at odds of 133–1 in the richest of the

Breeders' Cup The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Grade I Thoroughbred horse races, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, ...

races. Under last-minute

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

Jerry Bailey Jerry D. Bailey (born August 29, 1957 in Dallas, Texas) is an Thoroughbred Racing on NBC, NBC Sports thoroughbred racing analyst and a retired American National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame jockey. Early years Bailey was born ...

, the horse caught Bertrando in the home stretch to score the biggest upset in

history. His $269.20 payoff for a $2 wager remains a Breeders' Cup record. After his win, Arcangues remained in the United States and raced during the 1994 season under trainer

Richard Mandella Richard Eugene Mandella (born November 5, 1950 in Altadena, California), is a Thoroughbred horse trainer and a member of the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame. Mandella's father, a blacksmith, introduced him to horses at an early age and while still in ...

. In three starts, he won the John Henry Handicap 2on grass, but finished fifth back on dirt in the

Hollywood Gold Cup The Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes is a Grade I American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of miles on the dirt held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California in May. The race currently offers a purse of $400,000. ...

, his last race.

Stud record

Arcangues was retired and sent to Japan to stand at

stud Stud may refer to the following terms: Animals * Stud (animal), an animal retained for breeding ** Stud farm, a property where livestock are bred Arts and entertainment * Stud (band), a British progressive rock group * The Stud (bar), a gay bar ...

at Nakamura Chikusan in 1995. He sired (among others) Lucky Step (b. 1999, three wins in Japan) and Chacott (b. 2000, one win in Japan) out of Petite Furu (b. 1991, four wins in Japan), Aiai Lucky (b. 2002, one win in Japan and in training as of 2002) out of Dancing Queen, and Moere Leading (b. 1999, two wins in Japan and in training as of 2002) and Chanel Lady (b. 1997, three wins in Japan as of 2002), both out of Leading Queen (b. 1989, placed in Japan, dam of three winners). Of Arcangues' 264 foals, 94 started and 23 won. In March 2009, it was reported that Arcangues was

euthanized Animal euthanasia ( euthanasia from el, εὐθανασία; "good death") is the act of killing an animal or allowing it to die by withholding extreme medical measures. Reasons for euthanasia include incurable (and especially painful) conditi ...

in Japan in October 2006. He had been pensioned from stud that spring as a result of

founder Founder or Founders may refer to: Places *Founders Park, a stadium in South Carolina, formerly known as Carolina Stadium * Founders Park, a waterside park in Islamorada, Florida Arts, entertainment, and media * Founders (''Star Trek''), the ali ...

.Jeff Lowe and Ed DeRosa, "Classic winner Arcangues dead"
''Thoroughbred Times'', March 19, 2009. Retrieved 2011-06-29.

Pedigree

External links

Video of the 1993 Breeders' Cup Classic

References

{{Breeders' Cup Classic Winners 1988 racehorse births 2006 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in France Breeders' Cup Classic winners Thoroughbred family 8-f Byerley Turk sire line