Dax Racecourse will stage an eight-race flat programme on Sunday, August 23, with racing scheduled from 4:07pm through to 8:06pm. The meeting features a varied mix of contests for horses across different age groups, distances and race conditions. According to the official France Galop calendar, the Dax meeting is listed as a semi-nocturnal fixture with eight races, while the racecourse itself has highlighted the Prix Grand Dax as the principal attraction of the afternoon.
Dax Racecards 23 August 2026
The programme offers plenty of variety, beginning with two 2,300-metre contests for three-year-olds and older horses before moving through handicaps and shorter 1,400-metre events. The final race returns to 2,100 metres, providing a different test of pace and stamina. Across the eight races, 82 runners are scheduled, making it a substantial evening of flat racing at the French venue.
The Prix Grand Dax 1ere Destination Thermale de France takes centre stage at 4:07pm and carries a prize allocation of €19,200, making it one of the joint-highest-value races on the card. The contest is reserved for three-year-olds and will be run over 2,300 metres, with 13 runners listed. It is classified as a maiden race, giving the young horses an important opportunity to gain experience over a staying distance.
The 2,300-metre distance places emphasis on rhythm, balance and stamina rather than simply early speed. With a field of 13, the race could develop into an intriguing test as the runners negotiate the longer trip. The Prix Grand Dax also carries particular significance within the meeting because of its association with the Dax venue and its prominent position as the opening race. The racecourse’s own calendar lists the Prix Grand Dax as the featured event for Sunday, August 23.
The meeting begins at 4:07pm with the 2,300-metre Prix Grand Dax for three-year-olds. Thirteen runners are scheduled to line up for the €19,200 contest. As a maiden event, it provides an opportunity for developing three-year-olds to establish themselves over a demanding middle-distance trip.
At 4:42pm, attention turns to the Prix Marie-Therese Labertit, another 2,300-metre contest. The race carries €16,300 and has a field of 13. Open to horses aged four and above, it is classified as a Class 4 handicap. The longer distance should reward horses capable of maintaining their effort throughout the race.
The third race is scheduled for 5:17pm. The Prix Ermack covers 2,300 metres and features 12 runners, with €14,400 in prize money. Like the previous race, it is a Class 4 handicap for horses aged four and above. Its position in the programme continues the meeting’s strong emphasis on middle-distance racing.
At 5:52pm, the Prix Motrico provides another 2,300-metre challenge. The race has nine declared runners and carries €19,200, matching the highest prize allocation on the card. It is open to three-year-olds and is listed as a handicap.
With a smaller field than the opening three races, the Prix Motrico could offer a different tactical contest. The combination of the 2,300-metre trip and nine-runner field makes positioning and stamina important factors as the race unfolds.
The programme then shifts gears at 6:28pm with the Prix Charles & Eric Boulart over 1,400 metres. Twelve two-year-olds are scheduled for this €12,000 contest. The race is classified as a claiming event and represents a significant change from the longer-distance races earlier in the meeting.
The shorter trip should put greater emphasis on early pace and acceleration, while the young age group adds another layer of interest as emerging runners continue their development.
At 7:02pm, the Prix G. de Villatoya brings another 1,400-metre contest to the card. The race carries €19,200, again placing it among the meeting’s highest-value events. Eleven three-year-olds are scheduled to take part in this handicap.
The switch to 1,400 metres means the race is likely to demand a blend of speed and the ability to sustain an effort. With 11 runners, there should also be plenty of competition for position during the early stages.
The seventh race is due off at 7:34pm. The Prix de la Barre covers 1,400 metres and features six runners aged four and above. The contest carries €13,700 and is classified as a Class 3 race.
The six-runner field is the smallest of the first seven races, potentially creating a more compact contest. The 1,400-metre distance should again place considerable importance on pace and tactical positioning.
The meeting concludes at 8:06pm with the Prix du Chene de Saint-Vincent de Paul. Six horses aged four and above are scheduled to contest the 2,100-metre maiden race for €11,900.
After three consecutive races over 1,400 metres, the return to 2,100 metres provides a final stamina-based challenge. The six-runner field is also the smallest on the entire card, giving the closing race a distinctly different character from the opening events.
Sunday’s Dax programme combines eight races, distances ranging from 1,400 to 2,300 metres and runners from two-year-olds through older horses. The meeting begins with the headline Prix Grand Dax before moving through a sequence of handicaps, a claiming contest and maiden races.
The Prix Motrico and Prix G. de Villatoya share the €19,200 top prize with the opening Prix Grand Dax, while the other five races offer prize allocations between €11,900 and €16,300. The complete programme therefore provides a broad cross-section of French flat racing, with different distances and race conditions creating varied challenges throughout the evening.
With racing continuing into the evening, Dax promises a programme built around variety, young talent and competitive middle-distance and sprint contests. The action starts at 4:07pm and concludes shortly after 8pm, bringing an eight-race card to a close at the Dax meeting on August 23.
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