Craon is set to host a six-race flat racing programme on Monday, September 28, 2026, with the meeting featuring contests for two-year-olds, three-year-olds and older horses. The card includes races over distances from 1,300 metres to 3,000 metres, providing a varied test of speed, stamina and race experience.
The programme begins at 10:50 AM with the Prix Groupama (Prix de Champagne), a 1,300-metre maiden contest for two-year-olds. The race carries a total prize allocation of €14,600 and has nine runners scheduled to go to post. The early-season two-year-old event will provide an opportunity for the young horses to gain valuable racing experience over the relatively short distance.
At 11:20 AM, the Prix Spie (Prix Claude de Langle) will bring older horses together over 3,000 metres. The Class 2 contest carries a total prize allocation of €20,100 and has seven runners. The extended distance places emphasis on stamina and the ability to maintain a steady rhythm over the longer journey. With experienced four-year-olds and older horses making up the field, the race is expected to provide an interesting test of staying ability.
The third listed race of the meeting is the Prix Haras de la Haie Neuve (Prix Onde Amere), scheduled for 12:23 PM. The contest is for three-year-olds and will be run over 3,000 metres. A total of €10,100 is available, with 16 runners declared for the race. The large field and long distance make this one of the afternoon’s more demanding three-year-old events, with stamina likely to be an important factor as the runners progress through the 3,000-metre journey.
At 1:27 PM, the Prix Pigeon TP Loire Anjou (Prix Yves Lalleman) will feature another three-year-old contest, this time over 2,400 metres. The race carries a total prize allocation of €15,600 and has 13 runners. The maiden event will give the three-year-olds another opportunity to compete over a distance that requires a combination of pace and endurance. The field size should make for a competitive contest as the runners negotiate the 2,400-metre course.
The fifth listed race, the Prix Lesieur (Prix du Chene), is scheduled for 2:47 PM. This 2,400-metre handicap for three-year-olds carries a total prize allocation of €16,300 and features 14 runners. With a sizeable field lining up, the race will provide another important test for the younger generation over a middle-distance trip. The runners will need to settle into the race before producing their efforts through the latter stages.
The day’s programme concludes at 3:10 PM with the Prix du Salon du Cheval d’Angers (Course Espoirs). The race is open to horses aged three years and upward and will be contested over 2,200 metres. It is classified as a Class 4 event and has seven runners, with a total prize allocation of €1,000. The contest brings the day’s racing to a close with a smaller field and a distance that should test the balance between speed and stamina.
The Craon card therefore offers a broad mix of racing conditions. The opening maiden for two-year-olds is over 1,300 metres, while the programme then moves towards longer distances, including two separate 3,000-metre contests. The three-year-old division is strongly represented, with races over 3,000 metres and 2,400 metres before the final 2,200-metre event for horses aged three years and upward.
The Prix Spie (Prix Claude de Langle) carries the highest prize allocation among the races listed at €20,100, while the Prix Lesieur (Prix du Chene) follows with €16,300. The Prix Pigeon TP Loire Anjou (Prix Yves Lalleman) offers €15,600, while the opening Prix Groupama (Prix de Champagne) carries €14,600.
With six races scheduled between 10:50 AM and 3:10 PM, Craon will provide a varied afternoon of French flat racing on September 28. The programme combines maiden contests, a Class 2 race, a Class 4 event and a three-year-old handicap, creating a card that places different demands on horses across a range of distances.
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