Prix du Cadran

The Prix du Cadran is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 4,000 metres (about 2½ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.

It is France's most prestigious race for "stayers" – horses which specialise in racing over long distances. It is the French equivalent of the Gold Cup, the leading stayers' race in Great Britain.

History

The event is named after a clock face (cadran) at the École Militaire, a building located alongside its original venue, the Champ de Mars. It was first run in 1837, and was initially contested over one and a quarter laps of the track, about 2,500 metres.

The race was extended to 4,000 metres in 1843, and increased to 4,200 metres in 1846. It was held at Versailles in 1848, due to that year's French Revolution. It was not run in 1850, and its distance changed several times in the following decade. It was restricted to four-year-olds in 1854. It was transferred to Longchamp in 1857, and reverted to 4,200 metres in 1858. It was cancelled in 1871, because of the Franco-Prussian War.

The Prix du Cadran was re-opened to horses aged five or older and cut to 4,000 metres in 1913. It was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1918. It was cancelled once during World War II, in 1940. It was staged at Le Tremblay over 4,100 metres from 1943 to 1945. It was abandoned because of student protests in 1968.

The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Prix du Cadran was classed at the highest level, Group 1. For a period it took place in late May. It was opened to geldings in 1986.

The race was moved to the Saturday of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend in 1991. It was later switched to the same day as the "Arc", usually the first Sunday in October.

Records

Most successful horse (4 wins):

• Marsyas – 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947

Leading jockey (5 wins):

• Yves Saint-Martin – Waldmeister (1965), Danseur (1967), Recupere (1974), Buckskin (1977, 1978)

Leading trainer (15 wins):

• Tom Jennings – La Cloture (1851), Hervine (1852), Papillon (1854), Monarque (1856), Compiegne (1862), Alerte (1863), Beatrix (1865), La Fortune (1866), Auguste (1867), Longchamps (1868), Le Sarrazin (1869), Boulogne (1870), Saint Christophe (1878), Rayon d'Or (1880), Milan (1881)

(note: the trainers of some of the early winners are unknown)

Leading owner (11 wins):

• Frédéric de Lagrange – Compiegne (1862), Alerte (1863), Beatrix (1865), La Fortune (1866), Auguste (1867), Longchamps (1868), Le Sarrazin (1869), Boulogne (1870), Saint Christophe (1878), Rayon d'Or (1880), Milan (1881)

Winners since 1969

Earlier winners

* Vamos finished first in 1953, but he was disqualified.

See also

• List of French flat horse races

References

• France Galop (1979-1989) / Racing Post (1990-present) :
  • 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
• galop.courses-france.com:
  • 1837–1859, 1860–1889, 1890–1919, 1920–1949, 1950–1979, 1980–2009

• france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix du Cadran.
• galopp-sieger.de – Prix du Cadran.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix du Cadran (2014).
• pedigreequery.com – Prix du Cadran – Longchamp.
• tbheritage.com – Prix du Cadran.