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

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, 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 bas ...

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), ...

, Prix du Prince d'Orange,

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, 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 in the United States as part of the Breeders' Cup World Champion ...

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 and standardbred race horses. He was the third member of the family to preside over Wildenstein & Co., one of ...

'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 over a distance ...

winner

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

, he was given the name of the village of

Arcangues Arcangues (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques Departments of France, department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France in what was formerly the Basque province of Labourd. Geography Location Arc ...

in the

Pyrénées-Atlantiques Pyrénées-Atlantiques (; Gascon language, Gascon Occitan language, Occitan: ''Pirenèus Atlantics''; ) is a Departments of France, department located in the Regions of France, region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in the southwest corner of metropolitan ...

departement of the

Aquitaine Aquitaine (, ; ; ; ; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Aguiéne''), archaic Guyenne or Guienne (), is a historical region of southwestern France and a former Regions of France, administrative region. Since 1 January 2016 it has been part of the administ ...

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 that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

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 race ...

in the 1993

.David Schmitz, "Arcangues, BC Classic Winner, Dead"
''The Blood-Horse'', March 19, 2009. Retrieved 2011-06-29. 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 a ...

), Prix du Prince d'Orange (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 Graded stakes race, Grade I Thoroughbred racing, Thoroughbred horse races, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was ...

races. Under last-minute

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), 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 ...

Jerry Bailey, the horse caught

Bertrando Bertrando (February 18, 1989 – March 27, 2014) was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. A tall colt that grew to 16 hands 2 inches, Bertrando was bred by Ed Nahem at River Edge Farm in Buellton, California. He was sired by Skywal ...

in the home stretch to score the biggest upset in

history. His $269.20 payoff for a $2 wager remains a Breeders' Cup record. Wildenstein, Arcangues' owner, earned $1.56 million. After his win, Arcangues remained in the United States and raced during the 1994 season under trainer Richard Mandella. 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 II 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 $200,000 ...

, his last race.

Stud record

Arcangues was retired and sent to Japan to stand at

stud Stud may refer to: 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 in San Francisco * ...

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 ; "good death") is the act of killing an animal humanely, most commonly with injectable drugs. Reasons for euthanasia include incurable (and especially painful) conditions or diseases, lack of resources to con ...

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