Prix Penelope

The Prix Penelope is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs) at Saint-Cloud in April.

History

The event is named after two different horses called Penelope – a leading British broodmare foaled in 1798, and the winner of the Prix Royal foaled in 1820.

The Prix Penelope was established in 1905, and it was originally staged at Maisons-Laffitte.^[1] It was initially contested over 2,000 metres.^[2]

The race was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1919. It was held at Saint-Cloud in 1921,^[3] and moved there more permanently in 1927.

The Prix Penelope took place at Longchamp from 1940 to 1942, and switched to Maisons-Laffitte in 1943. It was extended to 2,100 metres in 1944. It returned to Saint-Cloud and reverted to 2,000 metres in 1946. It was restored to 2,100 metres in 1950.

The present race grading system was introduced in 1971, and the Prix Penelope was subsequently classed at Group 3 level.

The Prix Penelope can serve as a trial for the Prix de Diane. The last horse to win both events was Pawneese in 1976.

Records

Leading jockey (5 wins):

• George Stern – Muskerry (1905), Sais (1906), Roselys (1914), Samic (1921), Zariba (1922)
• Rae Johnstone – La Futaie (1940), Sylphide (1947), Corseira (1950), Arbele (1952), Sun Cap (1954)
• Thierry Jarnet – Madame Est Sortie (1988), Wemyss Bight (1993), Diamond Dance (1994), Tulipa (1996), La Sylphide (1999)

Leading trainer (7 wins):

• Geoffroy Watson – Favreale (1959, dead-heat), Timandra (1960), Hermieres (1961), Hether (1970), Cigaline (1971), Rescousse (1972), Brave Ketty (1973)
• André Fabre – Trampoli (1992), Wemyss Bight (1993), Diamond Dance (1994), Muncie (1995), Tulipa (1996), Gagnoa (2008), Waldlerche (2012)

Leading owner (10 wins):

• Marcel Boussac – Samic (1921), Zariba (1922), Diademe (1930), Canzoni (1939), Esmeralda (1942), Corseira (1950), Arbele (1952), Adarca (1953), Janiari (1956), Demia (1977)

Winners since 1981

Earlier winners

* The 1959 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.

See also

• List of French flat horse races

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
• galop.courses-france.com:
  • 1905–1919, 1920–1949, 1950–1979, 1980–present

• france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix Pénélope.
• galopp-sieger.de – Prix Penelope.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Penelope (2015).
• pedigreequery.com – Prix Penelope – Saint-Cloud.