The prestigious French Winter Meeting kicks off Thursday afternoon at Vincennes, running through Feb. 28, 2026.
Over the course of the meeting, 733 races will be held, with a total purse of $48.5 million, averaging $66,040 per race.
Seventeen Group 1 races are scheduled, with the crown jewel being the Prix d’Amérique, held on Sunday, Jan. 25.
As tradition dictates, four qualifying races will determine the starters for the Prix d’Amérique. The top three finishers in each qualify directly:
November 16 – Prix de Bretagne
December 7 – Prix du Bourbonnais
December 28 – Prix de Bourgogne
January 11 – Prix de Belgique
Following the Prix d’Amérique, two other major races complete the winter circuit:
February 8 – Prix de France
February 22 – Prix de Paris
As usual, French trotting authorities reserve most races for French-bred trotters.
Of the 733 races:
155 are open to European-bred horses
Only 39 allow American-bred horses to compete
The opening day’s highlight is the Group III Prix des Cévennes, run over 2850 meters with a standing start and a total purse of €90,000.
Several potential Prix d’Amérique contenders are entered, including:
– Josh Power (driver: Sebastian Ernault)
– Joshua Tree (driver: Jean-Michel Bazire)
– Izoard Vedaquais (driver: Benjamin Rochard)
– Hokkaido Jiel (driver: David Thomain)