Betting on Arc will be available

Churchill Downs Inc. plans to offer wagering at its outlets this year on six of the races from Longchamp in France on Oct. 5, including the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and four other Group 1 races.

Churchill Downs's Chicago-area track, Arlington Park, will act as the wagering hub for the Longchamp races, beginning with the Prix de l'Abbaye at 9 a.m. Eastern. Churchill will offer win, place, show, exacta, and trifecta wagering on the races.

The Arc, which will have a post of 11:30 a.m., is Europe's top race for older horses, and several of its runners typically come to the United States after the Arc to run on the Breeders' Cup card.

Karl Schmitt, the president of Churchill Downs's simulcasting company, said betting would be available at Churchill's simulcasting outlets in Illinois, Kentucky, Florida, and Indiana, and that more outlets are expected to come on line next week.

"Right now it's a work in progress," Schmitt said.

Television Games Network, the horse-racing wagering channel, will broadcast at least three of the races from Longchamp live, including the Arc, according to Jeff Shapes, a TVG spokesman. Wagering will be available through TVG's account-wagering operation on all six races offered by Churchill Downs, regardless of whether the races are broadcast live, Shapes said. The races are also expected to be offered on Youbet.com, a partner of TVG.