Prix du Jockey Club

Prix du Jockey Club
(French Derby)
Group 1 race

Assert, oil on canvas
Painting by Bob Demuyser (1920-2003)
Location Chantilly Racecourse
Chantilly, France
Inaugurated 1836
Race type Flat / Thoroughbred
Website france-galop.com
Race information
Distance 2,100 metres (1m 2½f)
Surface Turf
Track Right-handed
Qualification Three-year-olds
excluding geldings
Weight 58 kg
Allowances
1½ kg for fillies
Purse 1,500,000 (2011)
1st: €857,100
Prix du Jockey Club
2014
The Grey Gatsby Shamkiyr Prince Gibraltar

The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs) each year in early June.

History

The format of the race was inspired by the English Derby, and it was named in homage to the Jockey Club based at Newmarket in England. It was established in 1836, and it was originally restricted to horses born and bred in France. Its distance was initially 2,500 metres, and this was cut to 2,400 metres in 1843. It was switched to Versailles during the Revolution of 1848, and it was cancelled due to the Franco-Prussian War in 1871.

The race was abandoned in 1915, and for three years thereafter it was replaced by the Prix des Trois Ans. This took place at Moulins in 1916, Chantilly in 1917 and Maisons-Laffitte in 1918. The first two runnings after World War I were held at Longchamp.

A substitute race called the Prix de Chantilly was run at Auteuil over 2,600 metres in 1940. The Prix du Jockey Club was staged at Longchamp in 1941 and 1942, and at Le Tremblay over 2,300 metres in 1943 and 1944. It returned to Longchamp for the following three years, and on the second occasion it was opened to foreign participants.

The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Prix du Jockey Club was classed at the highest level, Group 1. The first foreign-trained horse to win was Assert in 1982. The distance was shortened to 2,100 metres in 2005.

Nine winners of the Prix du Jockey Club have subsequently won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The first was Ksar in 1921, and the most recent was Dalakhani in 2003.

Records

Leading jockey (9 wins):

Leading trainer (10 wins):

Leading owner (12 wins):

Winners since 1950

Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time
1950 Scratch Rae Johnstone Charles Semblat Marcel Boussac 2:32.2
1951 Sicambre Paul Blanc Max Bonaventure Jean Stern 2:35.1
1952 Auriban Rae Johnstone Charles Semblat Marcel Boussac 2:29.2
1953 Chamant Maxime Garcia Mick Bartholomew Henri Letellier 2:29.4
1954 Le Petit Prince René Bertiglia Charles Semblat Laudy Lawrence 2:43.3
1955 Rapace Freddie Palmer Robert Wallon François de Ganay 2:37.4
1956 Philius Serge Boullenger Charlie Elliott Marcel Boussac 2:45.1
1957 Amber Maxime Garcia Richard Carver Mrs André Mariotti 2:34.0
1958 Tamanar Jean Deforge John Cunnington, Sr. Ramon Beamonte 2:34.8
1959 Herbager Guy Chancelier Pierre Pelat Simone Del Duca 2:34.0
1960 Charlottesville George Moore Alec Head HH Aga Khan IV 2:34.8
1961 Right Royal Roger Poincelet Etienne Pollet Elisabeth Couturié 2:31.6
1962 Val de Loir Freddie Palmer Max Bonaventure Marquise du Vivier 2:29.4
1963 Sanctus Maurice Larraun Etienne Pollet Jean Ternynck 2:33.4
1964 Le Fabuleux Jean Massard William Head Mrs Guy Weisweiller 2:32.4
1965 Reliance Yves Saint-Martin François Mathet François Dupré 2:36.2
1966 Nelcius Yves Saint-Martin Miguel Clément Paul Duboscq 2:36.8
1967 Astec André Jézéquel A. Lieux Louis de La Rochette 2:29.8
1968 Tapalque Yves Saint-Martin François Mathet Arpad Plesch 2:32.2
1969 Goodly Freddy Head William Head Maurice Lehmann 2:30.4
1970 Sassafras Yves Saint-Martin François Mathet Arpad Plesch 2:31.1
1971 Rheffic Bill Pyers François Mathet Mrs François Dupré 2:32.0
1972 Hard to Beat Lester Piggott Richard Carver, Jr. Junzo Kashiyama 2:27.1
1973 Roi Lear Freddy Head Alec Head Germaine Wertheimer 2:34.2
1974 Caracolero Philippe Paquet François Boutin María Félix Berger 2:32.1
1975 Val de l'Orne Freddy Head Alec Head Jacques Wertheimer 2:35.2
1976 Youth Freddy Head Maurice Zilber Nelson Bunker Hunt 2:27.4
1977 Crystal Palace Gérard Dubroeucq François Mathet Guy de Rothschild 2:29.6
1978 Acamas Yves Saint-Martin Guy Bonnaventure Marcel Boussac 2:32.3
1979 Top Ville Yves Saint-Martin François Mathet HH Aga Khan IV 2:25.3
1980 Policeman Willie Carson Charlie Milbank Frederick Tinsley 2:27.3
1981 Bikala Serge Gorli Patrick Biancone Jules Ouaki 2:29.5
1982 Assert Christy Roche David O'Brien Robert Sangster 2:29.5
1983 Caerleon Pat Eddery Vincent O'Brien Robert Sangster 2:27.3
1984 Darshaan Yves Saint-Martin Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 2:32.2
1985 Mouktar Yves Saint-Martin Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 2:34.0
1986 Bering Gary W. Moore Criquette Head Ghislaine Head 2:24.1
1987 Natroun Yves Saint-Martin Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 2:30.8
1988 Hours After Pat Eddery Patrick Biancone Marquesa de Moratalla 2:33.4
1989 Old Vic Steve Cauthen Henry Cecil Sheikh Mohammed 2:28.7
1990 Sanglamore Pat Eddery Roger Charlton Khalid Abdullah 2:24.7
1991 Suave Dancer Cash Asmussen John Hammond Henri Chalhoub 2:27.4
1992 Polytain Frankie Dettori Antonio Spanu Mrs Bruno Houillion 2:30.3
1993 Hernando Cash Asmussen François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 2:27.2
1994 Celtic Arms Gérald Mossé Pascal Bary Jean-Louis Bouchard 2:31.3
1995 Celtic Swing Kevin Darley Lady Herries Peter Savill 2:32.8
1996 Ragmar Gérald Mossé Pascal Bary Jean-Louis Bouchard 2:27.2
1997 Peintre Celebre Olivier Peslier André Fabre Daniel Wildenstein 2:29.6
1998 Dream Well Cash Asmussen Pascal Bary Niarchos Family 2:29.3
1999 Montjeu Cash Asmussen John Hammond Michael Tabor 2:33.5
2000 Holding Court Philip Robinson Michael Jarvis John Good 2:31.8
2001 Anabaa Blue Christophe Soumillon Carlos Lerner Charles Mimouni 2:27.9
2002 Sulamani Thierry Thulliez Pascal Bary Niarchos Family 2:25.0
2003 Dalakhani Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 2:26.7
2004 Blue Canari Thierry Thulliez Pascal Bary Jean-Louis Bouchard 2:25.2
2005 Shamardal Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 2:09.0
2006 Darsi Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 2:05.8
2007 Lawman Frankie Dettori Jean-Marie Béguigné Marzocco / Ciampi 2:05.9
2008 Vision d'Etat Ioritz Mendizabal Eric Libaud Detré / Libaud 2:08.6
2009 Le Havre Christophe Lemaire Jean-Claude Rouget G. Augustin-Normand 2:06.8
2010 Lope de Vega Maxime Guyon André Fabre Gestüt Ammerland 2:07.1
2011 Reliable Man Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré Pride Racing Club 2:07.7
2012 Saonois Antoine Hamelin Jean-Pierre Gauvin Pascal Trevye 2:08.1
2013 Intello Olivier Peslier André Fabre Wertheimer et Frere 2:07.89
2014 The Grey Gatsby Ryan Moore Kevin Ryan Frank Gillespie 2:05.58

Earlier winners

  • 1836: Franck
  • 1837: Lydia
  • 1838: Vendredi
  • 1839: Romulus
  • 1840: Tontine
  • 1841: Poetess
  • 1842: Plover
  • 1843: Renonce 1
  • 1844: Lanterne
  • 1845: Fitz Emilius
  • 1846: Meudon
  • 1847: Morok
  • 1848: Gambetti
  • 1849: Experience
  • 1850: Saint Germain
  • 1851: Amalfi
  • 1852: Porthos
  • 1853: Jouvence
  • 1854: Celebrity
  • 1855: Monarque
  • 1856: Lion 1
  • 1857: Potocki
  • 1858: Ventre Saint Gris
  • 1859: Black Prince
  • 1860: Beauvais
  • 1861: Gabrielle d'Estrees
  • 1862: Souvenir
  • 1863: La Toucques
  • 1864: Bois Roussel
  • 1865: Gontran
  • 1866: Florentin
  • 1867: Patricien
  • 1868: Suzerain
  • 1869: Consul
  • 1870: Bigarreau
  • 1871: no race
  • 1872: Revigny
  • 1873: Boiard
  • 1874: Saltarelle
  • 1875: Salvator
  • 1876: Kilt
  • 1877: Jongleur
  • 1878: Insulaire
  • 1879: Zut
  • 1880: Beauminet
  • 1881: Albion IV
  • 1882: Dandin / Saint James 2
  • 1883: Frontin
  • 1884: Little Duck
  • 1885: Reluisant
  • 1886: Sycomore / Upas 2
  • 1887: Monarque II
  • 1888: Stuart
  • 1889: Clover
  • 1890: Heaume
  • 1891: Ermak
  • 1892: Chene Royal
  • 1893: Ragotsky
  • 1894: Gospodar
  • 1895: Omnium II
  • 1896: Champaubert
  • 1897: Palmiste
  • 1898: Gardefeu
  • 1899: Perth
  • 1900: La Moriniere
  • 1901: Saxon
  • 1902: Retz
  • 1903: Ex Voto
  • 1904: Ajax
  • 1905: Finasseur
  • 1906: Maintenon
  • 1907: Mordant
  • 1908: Quintette / Sea Sick 2
  • 1909: Negofol
  • 1910: Or du Rhin
  • 1911: Alcantara
  • 1912: Friant
  • 1913: Dagor
  • 1914: Sardanapale
  • 1915: no race
  • 1916: Teddy
  • 1917: Brumelli
  • 1918: Montmartin
  • 1919: Tchad
  • 1920: Sourbier
  • 1921: Ksar
  • 1922: Ramus
  • 1923: Le Capucin
  • 1924: Pot au Feu
  • 1925: Belfonds
  • 1926: Madrigal
  • 1927: Mon Talisman
  • 1928: Le Correge
  • 1929: Hotweed
  • 1930: Chateau Bouscaut
  • 1931: Tourbillon
  • 1932: Strip the Willow
  • 1933: Thor
  • 1934: Duplex
  • 1935: Pearlweed
  • 1936: Mieuxce
  • 1937: Clairvoyant
  • 1938: Cillas
  • 1939: Pharis
  • 1940: Quicko
  • 1941: Le Pacha
  • 1942: Magister
  • 1943: Verso II
  • 1944: Ardan
  • 1945: Coaraze
  • 1946: Prince Chevalier
  • 1947: Sandjar
  • 1948: Bey
  • 1949: Good Luck

1 The 1843 and 1856 races finished as dead-heats, but each was decided by a run-off.
2 The 1882, 1886 and 1908 races were dead-heats and have joint winners.

See also

References