Neck and neck in the Qatar Prix du Cadran at Hippodrome De Longchamp, Paris. The Group I race is 20 furlongs, the longest flat race in France. Eleven horses ran the course in the Prix du Cadran.
French jockey Christophe Soumilion pulls ahead on the Spanish owned-and-trained horse Bannaby to win the race Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday, the annual Arc events culminate with the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe race. The Aga Khan-bred three-year-old filly Zarkava is the punters' favourite. Urban Sea in 1993 was the last filly to win the race. Other strong contenders are Youmzain, Soldier of Fortune, Duke of Marmelade and Schiaparelli.
Silk banners for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe festivities, now underway at Hippodrome de Longchamp, Paris.
Les chapeaux
Sunday is also the day ladies attending the races will be wearing stylish hats. I bought an Italian hat in San Francisco, intending to wear it to the Arc. But on Friday in Antwerp, Belgium, my friend Di Mackey and I stumbled upon a tiny little shop full of unusual hats, all created by a Dutch designer.
Di said my face lit up when I tried on the third hat. I just remember laughing, when looking in the mirror. Because it is the kind of hat that makes a bold statement. It definitely trumped the original hat I'd intended to wear. And I'm pretty sure it can hold its own among all those stylish French chapeaux. Now if only the weather will cooperate! Rain is forecast.
Greetings Fellow Arc Goers:
I hope everyone had a wonderful day at the races; we certainly did! Unfortunately, however, the Arc poster we purchased at Longchamp didn't make the trip back to the states in frameable condition :-( The Longchamp Boutique did not have tubes for the posters, and as each of you may recall, it was very windy and damp (I believe our poster may have been doomed from the start). This saddens me since I thought the event poster was frameworthy, with the Arc de Triomphe laid into the horse; so creative! Does anyone know where I could pick up another copy?
By the way, Tara, I loved the photos of your hat; it looked great both ways. I too wore my hat/fascinator different at the end of the day than at the beginning. Didn't the milliner on site have the most beautiful array of hats and fascinators. My husband even purchased and donned what I'm called in the British racing cap.
Oh, and I am just crazy about your site. I am so happy I stumbled onto your posts; now, I use it to keep abreast of Paris happenings between our yearly trips. Many thanks for the great work!
Posted by: Nic Iuliano | 08 October 2008 at 22:45
SHOW THE HAT PLEASE
Posted by: Di Overton | 07 October 2008 at 07:53
You know what keeps on amazing me Tara? The number of Americans intending to vote for the McCain-Palin Republican platform.
I mean, the facts are clear: why are all those US citizens ignoring these facts and still cast their vote for more lies, more totally failed economic/social/financial policies and widely eroded civil liberties?
It's so surreal for a European.
Posted by: Peter | 05 October 2008 at 23:37
At first I was mesmerized by the beautiful colors and motion of the photos but then I went to the hat website and now I'm in a dream state! Please show us your hat!!!
Please?!
Tara responds:
Hat photos on Sunday! :)
Posted by: tangobaby | 04 October 2008 at 22:52