Prix Exbury

The Prix Exbury is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles) at Saint-Cloud in March.

History

The event was originally called the Prix Boiard. It was named after Boiard, a successful racehorse in the 1870s. It was established in 1891, and initially run at Maisons-Laffitte over 2,000 metres.^[1] It was open to horses aged three or older.

The race was renamed in memory of Eugène Adam (1840–1904), a former president of the Société Sportive d'Encouragement, in 1905.^[2] It reverted to its original title when the present Prix Eugène Adam was given its name in 1911.

The Prix Boiard was abandoned from 1915 to 1918. It was contested at Saint-Cloud over 2,100 metres in 1919. It returned to Maisons-Laffitte in 1920, and began a longer spell at Saint-Cloud in 1929. Its distance was 2,100 metres in 1931 and 1932.

The event was held at Longchamp from 1940 to 1942. It was run at Le Tremblay over 2,150 metres in 1943, and Maisons-Laffitte over 2,200 metres in 1944 and 1945. It returned to Saint-Cloud in 1946.

The race was won by a horse called Exbury in 1963, and it was renamed in his honour in 1969. From this point it was closed to three-year-olds. It was given Group 3 status in 1971.

The Prix Exbury is usually Europe's first Group race of the year.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

• Fourire – 1899, 1900
• Macdonald II – 1904, 1905
• Djebel – 1941, 1942
• Un Gaillard – 1943, 1944
• Yaxilio – 1970, 1971
• Mister Sic Top – 1972, 1973
• Chinchon – 2010, 2012

Leading jockey (7 wins):

• Olivier Peslier – Matarun (1994), Gunboat Diplomacy (1996), Nero Zilzal (1997), Loup Sauvage (1998), Court Canibal (2009), Polytechnicien (2011), Chinchon (2012)

Leading trainer (8 wins):

• André Fabre – Al Nasr (1982), Imyar (1983), Mille Balles (1984), Village Star (1987), Tuesday's Special (1995), Loup Sauvage (1998), Polish Summer (2004), Polytechnicien (2011)

Leading owner (7 wins):

• Marcel Boussac – Goyescas (1933), Goya II (1940), Djebel (1941, 1942), Ardan (1945), Goyama (1947), Nirgal (1948)

Winners since 1981

Earlier winners

* The 1975 running was abandoned because of snow.

See also

• List of French flat horse races
• Recurring sporting events established in 1891 – this race is included under its original title, Prix Boiard.

References

• France Galop / Racing Post:
  • 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988
  • 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
  • 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
  • 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

• france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix Exbury.
• galop.courses-france.com – Prix Exbury – Palmarès depuis 1980.
• galopp-sieger.de – Prix Exbury (ex Prix Boiard).
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Exbury (2015).
• pedigreequery.com – Prix Exbury – Saint-Cloud.