Clairefontaine Racecourse in France will host a nine-race Flat racing programme on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The meeting will begin at 1:55 PM and conclude at 6:35 PM, featuring contests for three-year-olds and older horses, alongside races for two-year-old runners. The programme will cover distances ranging from 1,400 metres to 2,900 metres, testing speed, stamina and adaptability across different race conditions. With maiden events, handicap contests and a Class 2 race on the schedule, the meeting will offer a varied afternoon of French Flat racing.
The opening contest, the Prix des Equidays, is scheduled for 1:55 PM over 2,400 metres. This handicap race is open to three-year-old horses and carries total prize money of €52,800, making it the highest-value contest on the card. With 16 runners listed, the race will test stamina and consistency over the extended distance. Positioning and the ability to maintain a strong pace through the closing stages are expected to be important factors.
The second race, the Prix Merci aux Partenaires & Exposants de Clairefontaine (Prix Madina), will take place at 2:30 PM over 1,400 metres. The maiden contest is open to two-year-old horses and offers €18,300 in prize money, with 12 runners listed. The shorter distance will place emphasis on early speed, acceleration and race awareness as the young horses seek to demonstrate their potential.
At 3:05 PM, the Prix Merci à la Boutique Gourmande Expl. des Resto de CF (Prix Filiberto) will bring the third contest of the afternoon. The race will be run over 1,800 metres and is open to two-year-old horses competing for €18,300 in prize money. With 15 runners listed, this maiden event will provide another opportunity for inexperienced horses to gain valuable racing experience. The longer trip compared with the preceding race will require a balance of pace, settling ability and stamina.
The fourth contest, the Prix Le Calvados Fête le Cheval (Prix Ashmore), is scheduled for 3:40 PM over 1,600 metres. This Class 2 race is open to three-year-old horses and carries prize money of €25,600. With nine runners listed, the contest will bring together a smaller field for a race that is likely to reward tactical positioning, efficient movement and a sustained finishing effort over the mile distance.
The Prix #EquidaysCalvados (Prix de la Couture Bardin) will follow at 4:15 PM over 1,600 metres. This maiden race is open to three-year-old horses and offers €20,100 in prize money. Eight runners are listed for the contest. The mile distance will test the participants’ ability to settle into a rhythm, conserve energy and produce a consistent effort in the final stages.
At 4:50 PM, the Prix Merci aux Visiteurs de Clairefontaine (Prix de Fleurigny) will be held over 1,400 metres. The contest is open to three-year-old horses and carries €18,200 in prize money. With 11 runners listed, the race is classified as a claiming event. The shorter distance will make speed and positioning important, while the runners will need to maintain their momentum throughout the contest.
The seventh race, the Prix Merci aux Pros des Courses Venus à Clairefontaine (Prix des Astrances), is scheduled for 5:25 PM over 2,900 metres. Open to horses aged four and above, this Class 4 handicap carries €17,300 in prize money, with 14 runners listed. As one of the longest races on the programme, it will place considerable emphasis on stamina, pace management and consistency over the extended distance.
At 6:00 PM, the Prix Merci 21.10.2026 – Dernière Journée des Animations Equidays (Prix de l’Étang des Ventes) will take place over 2,400 metres. This handicap contest is open to three-year-old horses and offers €26,900 in prize money. With 12 runners listed, the race will test endurance and the ability to maintain a steady rhythm over the longer trip. A well-timed finishing effort will be important as the field approaches the final stages.
The final contest, the Prix du Mini Meeting d’Octobre (Prix des Panicauts), will begin at 6:35 PM over 2,900 metres. This Class 4 handicap is open to horses aged four and above and carries €15,400 in prize money. Fourteen runners are listed for the closing race, which will test stamina and consistency over the extended distance. The field will need to negotiate the trip efficiently and preserve enough energy for the closing stages.
Clairefontaine’s nine-race meeting will provide a varied afternoon of French Flat racing, combining maiden contests for younger horses with handicaps and a Class 2 event. The distances will range from shorter 1,400-metre races to stamina-testing contests over 2,900 metres. Racing is scheduled to conclude at 6:35 PM with the Prix du Mini Meeting d’Octobre (Prix des Panicauts).
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