Name, title: Prix d'Amérique Marionnaud, 88th edition
AKA: World harness racing championship
Distinguishing features: Legendary race
DOB: 1920
Periodicity: once a year, last Sunday in January
Date: 25 January 2009, around 3.40 p.m.
Place: Paris-Vincennes racecourse. Temple of harness racing, built on 42 hectares in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, tucked away in the heart of the Bois de Vincennes.

The Race:

An impressive event. The top 18 crack horses and drivers from around the globe battling it out against each other. An elite race with a one million euro purse.

The Show:

A staggering spectacle. More than 150 performers, dancers and acrobats out on the track. Every year, a spectacular parade. Procession of the 18 competitors. Carrousel des Lances of the Garde Républicaine.

The Stakes:

The busiest day of the PMU calendar. Record stakes every year.

The Crowds:

A fanatical turnout. Whipped to a frenzy towards the start of the race. 40,000 spectators expected, with plenty of celebrities. Active presence of a number of devoted fan clubs.

Generosity:

An inextricable part of the Prix d'Amérique Marionnaud, the epitome of the charitable event. 2009 campaign: to lend support to the "Toutes à l'Ecole" association.

Fashion

in keeping with the prestige of the event. Christian Lacroix, cdesigner of the Collector's T-shirt for 2009.

Sponsor:

A loyal and famous companion. Marionnaudhas been lending its support to the Prix d'Amérique since 2001.