The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club will sponsor the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) beginning in 2008 under a five-year partnership agreement with France Galop, French racing’s governing body.

The purse for the Arc, a 2,400-meter (11.93-furlong) turf race that is considered one of the world’s premiere races, will rise from approximately $2,827,000 (2-million euros) this year to approximately $5.8-million (4-million euros) for next year’s edition in October at Longchamp.

With the purse boost, the Arc becomes the world’s richest turf race and places it second to only the $6-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) among the world’s most lucrative races.

For the past several years, the Arc has been sponsored by Lucien Barriere Hotel and Casino Group.

“The Arc, already recognized worldwide as the best quality race with the highest rating over the last five years, will definitely reach, thanks to this partnership, the first place among international sporting events, in all disciplines,” France Galop Director General Louis Romanet said.

The partnership also includes a program of four international races for Arabian horses, one of which will be run at Longchamp on Arc day. The race will offer a purse of approximately $505,150 (350,000 euros), making it what is believed to be the world’s richest Arabian race.

The partnership with France Galop comes as the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club seeks to raise the profile of racing in the tiny Arab emirate, located on the Persian Gulf, with Saudi Arabia on its southern border. The club plans to host a $1-million international Thoroughbred race in Qatar to coincide with the 2009 World Cup.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh al Thani, the club’s vice chairman, said the partnership is “taking place at a time when Qatar, already recognized for the quality of Arabian horse racing, is implementing an ambitious development program for Thoroughbred racing.”