| Location | Longchamp Racecourse Paris, France |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1882 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Website | france-galop.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1,400 metres (7f) |
| Track | Turf, right-handed |
| Qualification | Two-year-olds excluding Group 1 winners |
| Weight | 56 kg Allowances 1½ kg for fillies Penalties 2½ kg for Group 2 winners 2½ kg if two Group 3 wins 1½ kg if one Group 3 win |
| Purse | €80,000 (2009) Distribution 1st: 50%, 2nd: 20%, 3rd: 15% 4th: 10%, 5th: 5% |
The Prix La Rochette is a Group 3 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,400 metres (about 7 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.
Contents |
It was originally one of a series of races which were collectively titled the Prix Triennal. The first leg, from which the present contest derives, was introduced in 1882. The second, a race for three-year-olds, began in 1883, and the third, for four-year-olds, in 1884. The events were specifically restricted to horses which were still owned by the breeder who foaled them. The Prix Triennal was initially held at Fontainebleau, and the distance for juveniles was 1,100 metres.
All three races were renamed the Prix La Rochette in 1889. This was in memory of Charles de La Rochette (1820–1889), a long-serving steward of the Société d'Encouragement, the main governing body of horse racing in France at that time. The Prix La Rochette moved to Longchamp in 1892, and that year's two-year-old leg was contested over 1,000 metres. It reverted to 1,100 metres in 1893.
The series switched to Chantilly in 1906, and certain elements were modified. The two-year-old event was split into separate divisions – one race for colts and one for fillies. The three-year-old leg was similarly divided, while that for four-year-olds remained a mixed-sex race. The Prix La Rochette was abandoned during World War I, but a substitute event was held at Maisons-Laffitte in 1918. It returned to Longchamp the following year. Thereafter, with one exception, it continued at Chantilly until 1938. The exception was in 1922, when it was transferred to Deauville. The juvenile colts' and fillies' races at this venue were run over 1,000 metres. The split-race format was maintained until 1929.
The Prix La Rochette was cancelled three times during World War II, in 1939, 1940 and 1944. Two significant changes were made in 1941 – it moved to Longchamp and its regular distance was cut to 1,000 metres. The race was temporarily switched to Le Tremblay in 1943, but since then it has mostly remained at Longchamp. In the post-war period it was occasionally run at alternative venues, with short-term departures to Chantilly (1947, 1957–1959) and Deauville (1955). The 1947 edition saw a brief return to 1,100 metres.
The distance of the Prix La Rochette was progressively increased during the late 1960s. There were short spells at 1,300 metres (1966–67), 1,400 metres (1968) and 1,500 metres (1969), before a more sustained period over 1,600 metres began in 1970.
The race was restricted to male horses only from 1995 to 1999. It began a four-year stint at Chantilly in 1997. The present length, 1,400 metres, was introduced when it returned to Longchamp in 2001.
Leading jockey (8 wins):
Leading trainer (10 wins):
Leading owner (10 wins):
1 Rainbow Corner finished first in 1991, but he was relegated to second place following a Stewards' Inquiry.
2 Yasoodd was first in 2005, but he was placed fourth after a Stewards' Inquiry.
* The 1942 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.