Issued on behalf of the European Pattern Committee
At its primary 2025 meeting held on Friday 7 February at the offices of France Galop in Paris, the European Pattern Committee (EPC) reviewed all Pattern and Listed races staged in Europe in 2024 and approved several noteworthy changes to the 2025 European Flat racing programme.
The EPC sanctioned a total of 814 black type races (826 in 2024) to be held in Europe in 2025, comprising 411 Group races (416 in 2024) and 403 Listed races (410 in 2024).
Upgrades, additions and notable changes
The EPC approved the upgrade of four Group 2 races to Group 1 status. In Britain, the City Of York (3yo+, York, August) will become the second all-aged 7-furlong Group 1 race in Europe, alongside the Forèt at ParisLongchamp in October.
The remaining Group 1 upgrades were all related to the EPC’s continued pan-European focus on the middle distance and staying horse. In Britain, the British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot (2m, 3yo+, October) was upgraded to join the four existing Group 1 races on British Champions Day. France will see the Vicomtesse Vigier at ParisLongchamp (3100m, 4yo+, May) upgraded, which will offer an earlier Group 1 opportunity for staying horses in the spring. Finally, in Ireland, the Golden Fleece for two-year-olds at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend in mid-September will be upgraded to Group 1 status for 2026, in tandem with an increase in race distance from 8-furlongs to 9-furlongs. The advanced notification of this upgrade is intended to allow time for participants to become aware of the change and to give the race the best chance of success from year one and thereafter.
One further upgrade was approved in France, with the Prix d’Aumale at Paris Longchamp (1600m, 2yo fillies, September) upgraded from Group 3 to Group 2 status.
The EPC also sanctioned five new Listed races across Europe. France will promote an existing non-black type race to Listed status at La Teste in late-March, over 2000m for four-year-olds and upwards, Ireland will create a new two-year-old Listed opportunity over 8-furlongs at Naas in early-July (Pat Smullen Stakes), and there will be two races upgraded to Listed status in Sweden and Denmark – the Valley Chapel Memorial at Jagersro (1730m, 3yo+, July) and the Zawawi Sprint at Klampenborg (1200m, 3yo+, August). Lastly, Italy will create a new Listed race for two-year-old colts & geldings, over 1200m at Milan in June (Premio Bimbi).
Other key changes to note include the bringing forward by one week of France’s Arc de Triomphe Trial races – that being the Group 1 Prix Vermeille, Group 2 Prix Niel and Group 2 Prix Foy. This will allow an extra week of preparation for Arc contenders and also create a showpiece day of horseracing at ParisLongchamp alongside the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp – which has seen its total race value increased to €800,000 for this year. In Ireland, it has been agreed that the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes should swap dates with the Group 2 Railway Stakes (both at the Curragh), which should create better progression through the Pattern for two-year-olds domestically. Another noteworthy change to highlight in 2025 is a later date for the Group 2 Derby Italiano in Rome, which moves from mid-May to 2 June – a national holiday in Italy.
Quality control
The EPC remains resolute in strictly enforcing the highest standards of international quality control. Across Europe, a total of five Pattern races have been downgraded in 2025, with a further 12 Listed races losing that status. Those races are:
France
- Group 2 Gros-Chene (Chantilly) downgraded to Group 3;
- Listed Prix Ceres (Fontainebleau) loses Listed status.
Germany
- Listed Diana Trial (Baden-Baden) loses Listed status;
- Listed Grosser Preis der Hannoverschen Volksbank (Hannover) loses Listed status.
Ireland
- Group 3 Amethyst (Leopardstown) downgraded to Listed.
Italy
- Group 2 Gran Criterium (Milan) downgraded to Group 3;
- Group 3 Premio Primi Passi (Milan) downgraded to Listed;
- Listed Seregno (Milan) loses Listed status;
- Listed Mario Incisa della Rocchetta (Milan) loses Listed status;
- Listed Nogara Memorial Mil Borromeo (Milan) loses Listed status;
- Listed Gran Premio d’Italia (Milan) loses Listed status;
- Listed Merano loses Listed status;
- Listed Conte Felice Scheibler (Rome) loses Listed status;
- Listed Rumon Mem. Porcu (Rome) loses Listed status;
- Listed Criterium di Pisa loses Listed status;
- Listed Piazza Dei Miracoli loses Listed status.
Turkey
- Group 3 International Istanbul Trophy (Veliefendi) downgraded to Listed.
France has also taken a strategic decision to merge four black type races, which effectively removes four races of that type from the country’s programme. Most notable is the removal of the Group 2 Prix Alec Head at Deauville in August (note that the handle will be retained and transferred to the Group 2 race previously known as the Prix de Pomone), which will result in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet now being open to three-year-olds and upwards fillies and mares. The Group 3 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte has effectively merged with the Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange, which will now be open to older mares, and two Listed races have been proactively removed as part of similar action, which is hoped will improve competitiveness and strengthen the overall programme in France.
Races at risk of downgrade in 2026
A total of 22 Pattern and Listed races will be at risk of potential downgrade in 2026 depending on their performance in 2025. By nation, the spread of races is as follows:
Britain – 2
France – 1
Germany – 6
Ireland – 2
Denmark – 1
Italy – 9
Turkey – 1
Jason Morris, Chair of the European Pattern Committee, said: “The European Pattern Committee approved some significant upgrades this year, with four new Group 1 races strengthening our international programme at the highest level. It is particularly important to the EPC that three of these upgrades are relating to the staying horse, an area that European racing has for so long excelled in, and one in which we are committed to safeguarding with a pan-European approach.
“The EPC noted that previous efforts have only achieved limited success in retaining our top stayers in Europe in the face of strong export market opportunities. The promotion of the Vicomtesse Vigier in France and, for 2026, the Golden Fleece in Ireland are part of a complementary package of changes to developmental races for staying horses in those two countries, following similar measures already introduced in Britain. Our major European horseracing nations are not merely focused on a top-down approach, but are also implementing various strategic interventions within the wider racing programme to ensure the continued production and retention of sufficient high-class horses to sustain our domestic and international programmes, with a particular focus on the middle distance and staying race areas.
“However, it is important to note that this year will see another reduction in the number of Pattern and Listed races to be staged throughout Europe, with the total number having been reduced from 852 races in 2022 to 814 in 2025. The EPC continues to enforce the most stringent international quality control measures so that the kitemark of excellence that European black type provides is protected, whilst attempting to identify possible remedies for a declining quality horse population and alleviate the downward pressure on race ratings. The EPC reviews its Ground Rules regularly and has agreed that a 2lb lower rating parameter will in future apply for 3yo-only races which mirrors the position adopted by the Asian Pattern Committee and is likely to become the international norm. In agreeing this change, the EPC noted with concern the declining ratings of 3yos races internationally in recent years and believes that the symptoms behind this trend need to be considered, the underlying causes identified and then solutions sought within the EPC member countries and globally.”
