Clairefontaine is set to host an engaging eight-race programme on Friday, August 21, bringing together a varied field of races for horses across different age groups and categories. The meeting features contests over distances ranging from 1,400 metres to 2,400 metres, with maiden events, Class 2 and Class 3 races, and handicap conditions providing a broad test of ability and consistency. The programme begins at 1:30pm and continues through the afternoon, with the final race scheduled for 5:45pm.
Clairefontaine Racecards 21 August 2026
The meeting combines opportunities for younger horses seeking an important breakthrough with established performers returning to competitive action. Several races carry notable prize purses, while the different distances should place emphasis on speed, stamina, tactical positioning and the ability to handle the demands of Clairefontaine’s course.
The day’s highest-value contest comes at 1:30pm, when the Prix Ville de Tourgeville (Prix de Roncheville) opens the programme with a purse of €27,400. The 1,400-metre event is reserved for two-year-olds and is classified as a maiden race, with 11 runners scheduled to take part. For these inexperienced horses, the contest represents an important opportunity to gain valuable experience over the distance while attempting to establish themselves in competitive company.
The opening race is likely to provide an interesting early indication of the younger generation’s development. At 1,400 metres, the runners will need a useful combination of early speed and the ability to maintain their effort through the closing stages. With 11 horses entered, positioning and rhythm could also prove important as the field negotiates the course. The €27,400 purse makes it the most valuable race on the card and gives the meeting an immediate highlight before the programme moves into its remaining seven contests.
The second race, the Prix Fromagerie Graindorge (Prix de Guernesey), is scheduled for 2:05pm. Open to horses aged four and above, the Class 2 contest will be run over 1,800 metres and carries a purse of €24,700. Seven runners are listed for the race, creating a relatively compact field.
The longer distance compared with the opener should put greater emphasis on balance, stamina and the ability to settle during the early part of the race. As a Class 2 event, it brings together more experienced performers and provides a significant test in the middle-distance category.
At 2:40pm, three-year-olds will contest the Prix GD Ordre Trou Normand, Calvados, Cidres et Pommeau (Prix Roseliere). The maiden event covers 2,400 metres and offers a purse of €20,100.
With 10 runners scheduled to compete, the race will demand patience and stamina. The extended trip is a major step away from sprint distances and should favour horses capable of maintaining an even pace over the full journey. For the three-year-olds involved, the race offers another opportunity to build experience over staying distances.
The fourth race is another 2,400-metre maiden contest for three-year-olds. The Prix Conf. Chevaliers Pont Eveque/Fins Gousters Pre-Bocage (Prix Misti) is due off at 3:15pm and features 11 runners.
The purse is €20,100, matching the previous race. The extended distance again makes stamina an important consideration, while the maiden status means several runners will be looking to make a significant impression. Consistency over the final stages could prove particularly important in what should be a searching test.
The programme moves back to 1,600 metres for the Prix Confrerie Chevaliers du Livarot et du Camembert (Prix des Astrees) at 3:50pm. This Class 3 contest is restricted to three-year-olds and features 11 runners competing for €18,300.
The mile distance provides a useful middle ground between the day’s sprint and staying races. Horses will need enough pace to establish a good position while retaining energy for the final stages. The Class 3 classification also brings together runners with established competitive experience.
At 4:25pm, older horses return for the Prix IDAC Interprofession des Appellations Cidricoles (Prix d’Escoville). The 1,400-metre Class 3 handicap is open to horses aged four and above, with 12 runners listed and €21,100 in prize money.
The handicap format creates another interesting dimension to the afternoon. With a larger field than the previous contest, tactical positioning could become particularly important. The 1,400-metre trip should reward horses able to combine acceleration with enough endurance to sustain their challenge.
The seventh race is the Prix Ville de Pont-L’Eveque (Prix de la Cour Rectangle), scheduled for 5:10pm. This Class 2 event is for three-year-olds and will be contested over 1,400 metres. The purse stands at €25,600, making it the second-highest-value race on the card, with 13 runners expected.
The combination of a strong purse, Class 2 status and a sizeable field makes this one of the afternoon’s key contests. The 1,400-metre distance should encourage a briskly run race, while the 13-runner field may make the tactical battle especially significant.
The meeting concludes with the Prix Confrerie Chevaliers des Rillettes Sarthoises (Prix d’Herouillette) at 5:45pm. Open to horses aged four and above, this Class 3 handicap covers 1,400 metres and features 11 runners.
The race carries €19,200 and provides a final opportunity for experienced performers to close the Clairefontaine programme on a competitive note. The sprint distance should place emphasis on pace and positioning, with runners needing to produce their strongest effort during the closing stages.
Friday’s Clairefontaine card offers a balanced mixture of races, moving between sprint, mile and staying distances while giving both younger and older horses opportunities to compete. The opening maiden race carries the day’s largest purse, while the seventh race also stands out with its €25,600 prize fund and 13-runner field.
Across all eight races, the programme provides a broad examination of speed, stamina, experience and racecraft. From two-year-olds beginning their competitive careers to established four-year-olds and older horses, the meeting promises an afternoon featuring a wide range of racing challenges at Clairefontaine.
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