From 2027 onwards, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe will be open to geldings for the first time in the race's history.
Members of the France Galop board voted in favour of the new ruling on Monday, completely changing the complexion of the race going forward.
In order to officially remove the restrictions on geldings, France will have to request permission from the European Pattern Committee, however, it is likely that the rule change will go ahead in order to bring Europe's richest race in line with other major races across the continent.
Entries for this year's race have already closed, meaning that the changes will come into effect in 2027.
Aside from the Prix Jacques le Marois, the Arc has stood alone in the French Pattern for restricting the race the just colts, fillies and mares. As a result, the race has come under extreme pressure in recent years due to superstars such as Calandagan and Goliath being denied a chance to compete in the 1m4f Longchamp showpiece.
Calandagan is one the best horses to come out of France this decade but was gelded after his debut as a two-year-old in 2023.
Handled brilliantly by Francis-Henri Graffard, he ended 2025 as the Longines World's Best Racehorse after a quartet of Group 1 victories all across the globe. The five-year-old first took the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud before heading over to England for a brace of lucrative wins in the King George and Champion Stakes.
He saved the best until last, however, becoming the first European winner of the Japan Cup since Falbrav in 2002.
Whilst it is normal for two and three-year-old races to disallow geldings from competing, there are numerous open-age Group 1s that permit their participation. Both the British and Irish Champion Stakes are open to geldings and regularly attract high-class fields.
