Prix La Force

The Prix La Force is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles) at Longchamp in April.

History

The event is named in memory of the Duc de La Force, Bertrand Nompar de Caumont (1840–1909), a member of the Société d'Encouragement. It was established in 1910, and was initially open to horses aged three or four.^[1] Its original distance was 2,200 metres.^[2] It was later opened to older horses.

The Prix La Force was restricted to three-year-olds in 1950. From this point it was contested over 2,000 metres. For brief spells thereafter it was run over 2,200 metres (1956–58), 2,000 metres (1959–60), 2,400 metres (1961–63) and 2,600 metres (1964–65). It reverted to 2,000 metres in 1966.

The race was staged at Chantilly in 1995 and Deauville in 1996. It was run over 2,400 metres at Longchamp from 1997 to 2000. It was subsequently contested over 2,000 metres at Chantilly (2001–02) and Saint-Cloud (2003–04).

The event returned to Longchamp in 2005. It was temporarily increased to 2,100 metres in 2011.

The Prix La Force can serve as a trial for the Prix du Jockey Club. The last horse to win both races was Saonois in 2012.

Records

Leading jockey since 1950 (7 wins):

• Freddy Head – Cadmus (1966), Mazarin (1969), Orante (1975), Fabulous Dancer (1979), Truculent (1984), Louis Le Grand (1985), Val des Bois (1989)

Leading trainer since 1950 (6 wins):

• Criquette Head-Maarek – Fabulous Dancer (1979), Truculent (1984), Louis Le Grand (1985), The Scout (1987), Val des Bois (1989), Kotashaan (1991)
• André Fabre – Al Nasr (1981), Sifting Gold (1990), Radevore (1996), Magellano (1997), Simon de Montfort (2010), Triple Threat (2013)

Leading owner since 1950 (4 wins):

• Jacques Wertheimer – Orante (1975), Truculent (1984), Val des Bois (1989), Kotashaan (1991)

Winners since 1978

^a The 2002 winner Diaghilev was later exported to Hong Kong and renamed River Dancer.

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

• france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix La Force.
• galop.courses-france.com – Prix La Force – Palmarès depuis 1980.
• galopp-sieger.de – Prix La Force.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix La Force (2013).
• pedigreequery.com – Prix La Force – Longchamp.