Nominations are now open for the Arqana Series, which will this year offer a €20,000 bonus to the winners of 20 races in the French Flat racing calendar.The owner of the winning horse in each of these races, provided they are eligible for the Arqana Series, will receive a €20,000 bonus in the form of a voucher, redeemable at the 2026 Arqana sales.Designed to provide more winning opportunities for the connections behind horses qualified for the series, the races will take place between June 15 and October 18, over distances ranging from 1,200 metres to 2,000 metres.Meanwhile, returning in 2026 will be the five headline races of the Arqana Series, offering total prize-money of €1.2 million. They include the following four races at Deauville on Thursday, August 13:€160,000 Arqana Series des Poulains (2yo, 1400m, unraced colts and geldings)€160,000 Arqana Series des Pouliches (2yo, 1400m, unraced fillies)€260,000 Arqana Series Critérium d'Été (2yo, 1300m, conditions race)€260,000 Arqana Series des 3 ans (3yo, 2000m, conditions race)The programme will then conclude during the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend at ParisLongchamp, with the fifth and final race to be held on Saturday, October 3:€260,000 Arqana Series – Haras des Bouquetot Critérium d'Automne (2yo, 1600m, conditions race)In 2025, these five races attracted a total of 72 runners, 31 of which were trained outside of France. Ralph Beckett's Cape Orator was the standout performer of last year's series, having won both the Critérium d'Été and Haras des Bouquetot Critérium d'Automne. The son of Mohaather had been a €280,000 purchase at the Deauville October Yearling Sale.Olivier Delloye, president of Arqana, said, “The Arqana Series continues its growth, as shown by the sharp rise in participation recorded in 2025. This enthusiasm confirms the value of a programme designed to showcase the horses that have passed through our sales ring and offer real opportunities to their owners.“In 2026, we wanted to take things a step further by increasing the opportunities for qualified horses through the creation of the €20,000 bonus. This scheme will both enable a greater number of horses to be rewarded, and support returns on Arqana's sales.”Nominations for the 2026 Arqana Series will close on Monday, June 1, with eligibility criteria available to view here. Nominations can be made via this link.The post New Bonus Races Announced as Nominations Open for 2026 Arqana Series appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.