THE recent edition of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe has provided much to dwell on over the last fortnight and it also provides further food for thought this week, albeit on a different topic to that of last Saturday.

In the aftermath of the great race, a possible date change to earlier in the autumn was mooted; some of the thinking behind this suggestion being that this would afford the contestants in Europe’s premier Group 1 a chance to race on better ground.

However, if history relates anything it is that the allure and the prestige of the Arc transcend any and all concerns about timing or ground. Unquestionably the great race has been run on testing going on many occasions but does this do anything to diminish the race that is the holy grail in terms of middle distance racing in Europe?

The answer is absolutely not. The Arc de Triomphe is in the happy position where it possesses a profile and a draw which means that even the prospect of bottomless ground in Paris on the first Sunday in October isn’t enough to deter a host of would be contenders from around Europe and further afield.

Conditions

Occasionally a high-profile contender for the race may defect on account of unsuitable conditions but there is nothing to suggest or indicate that this great and storied race is in any way diminished by its position in the calendar.

A roll of honour which stretches from Sea Bird to Alleged, Dancing Brave, Montjeu and Sea The Stars provides yet further evidence that the Arc and anyone connected with it should be quite content with the slot it occupies in early October. In short, suggestions of a change in date are simply without merit.

However, the reaction that accompanied this year’s renewal is becoming something of a tiresome theme for racing which is that no great race can be run nowadays without seemingly leading to some clamour for change in its aftermath.

Tradition

In various instances and areas racing is reluctant to change and it is a sport deeply rooted in tradition with an approach that could generously be described as conservative.

However, some of those traditions have stood the test of time over the course of centuries and some are worth holding on to as they lie at the heart of racing.

By way of example, just consider the classics. Why should the Guineas be held at a later date in the season? Yet this idea seems to rear its head on a regular basis. It now seems impossible for the Derby at Epsom to take place without some murmuring about reducing its distance to 10 furlongs.

Then we have the oldest classic of them all, the St Leger, which is also accompanied by suggestions about a reduction in its distance.

St Leger

The St Leger is particularly interesting case as such suggestions came on the back of the race producing one of its very finest winners in decades – Hurricane Lane – last month.

There is absolutely no doubt that some races throughout the year are in need of revision and reinvigoration. However, there are others that are absolutely fine as they are and perhaps the greatest and famous races of all owe their iconic status to the fact their format has worked so well for decades if not centuries.

Unquestionably there are areas where racing has to change but those who are quick to call for changes to some of the great races would do well to switch their attention to other avenues of interest.