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

Previous years
2013
Intello	Morandi	Sky Hunter
2012
Saonois	Saint Baudolino	Nutello
2011
Reliable Man	Bubble Chic	Baraan

2010-2001
2010
Lope De Vega	Planteur	Pain Perdu
2009
Le Havre	Fuisse	Westphalia
2008
Vision D'etat	Famous Name	Natagora
2007
Lawman	Literato	Shamdinan
2006
Darsi	Best Name	Arras
2005
Shamardal	Hurricane Run	Rocamadour
2004
Blue Canari	Prospect Park	Valixir
2003
Dalakhani	Super Celebre	Coroner
2002
Sulamani	Act One	Simeon
2001
Anabaa Blue	Chichicastenango	Grandera

2000-1991
2000
Holding Court	Lord Flasheart	Circus Dance
1999
Montjeu	Nowhere To Exit	Rhagaas
1998
Dream Well	Croco Rouge	Sestino
1997
Peintre Celebre	Oscar	Astarabad
1996
Ragmar	Polaris Flight	Le Destin
1995
Celtic Swing	Poliglote	Winged Love
1994
Celtic Arms	Solid Illusion	Alriffa
1993
Hernando	Dernier Empereur	Hunting Hawk
1992
Polytain	Marignan	Contested Bid
1991
Suave Dancer	Subotica	Cudas

1990-1982
1990
Sanglamore	Epervier Bleu	Erdelistan
1989
Old Vic	Dancehall	Galetto
1988
Hours After	Ghost Buster's	Emmson
1987
Natroun	Trempolino	Naheez
1986
Bering	Altayan	Bakharoff
1985
Mouktar	Air de Cour	Premier Role
1984
Darshaan	Sadler's Wells	Rainbow Quest
1983
Caerleon	L'Emigrant	Esprit du Nord
1982
Assert	Real Shadai	Bois de Grace

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):

• Yves Saint-Martin – Reliance (1965), Nelcius (1966), Tapalque (1968), Sassafras (1970), Acamas (1978), Top Ville (1979), Darshaan (1984), Mouktar (1985), Natroun (1987)

Leading trainer (10 wins):

• Tom Jennings, Sr. – Porthos (1852), Monarque (1855), Ventre Saint Gris (1858), Black Prince (1859), Gabrielle d'Estrees (1861), Consul (1869), Insulaire (1878), Zut (1879), Albion (1881), Dandin (1882)

Leading owner (12 wins):

• Marcel Boussac – Ramus (1922), Tourbillon (1931), Thor (1933), Cillas (1938), Pharis (1939), Ardan (1944), Coaraze (1945), Sandjar (1947), Scratch (1950), Auriban (1952), Philius (1956), Acamas (1978)

Winners since 1950

Earlier winners

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

• 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
• galop.courses-france.com:
  • 1836–1859, 1860–1889, 1890–1919, 1920–1949, 1950–1979, 1980–present
• prixdujockeyclub.com – Official website.
• france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix du Jockey Club.
• galopp-sieger.de – Prix du Jockey Club.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix du Jockey Club (2011).
• pedigreequery.com – Prix du Jockey Club – Chantilly.
• tbheritage.com – Prix du Jockey Club.