Criquette Head-Maarek
Encyclopedia
Christiane "Criquette" Head (born 6 November 1948 at Marly-le-Roi
, near Maisons-Laffitte
, France
) is considered to be the leading female racehorse trainer
in the world.
Known as Criquette, she was born into the Thoroughbred horse racing
business. Her great grandfather was a jockey
-turned-trainer as was her grandfather William Head who was a very successful jockey, trainer, and owner in both flat racing
and steeplechase
events. Her father, Alec Head
, became a successful trainer and breeder
and the owner of Haras du Quesnay
near Deauville
. The eldest of three daughters, her brother Freddy Head
was the champion jockey six times in France who now trains horses, and sister Martine oversees the operations at Haras du Quesnay.
In her teens, Criquette Head studied for three years in the United Kingdom
at schools in Guildford
in Surrey
and Eastbourne
in East Sussex
. She started riding ponies as a child then at age 18 began competing as a rider. Trilingual (French, English and Spanish), she lived in Spain
for several years before returning home in 1974 where she worked in a brokerage firm but decided on a career in racing. She began as an assistant trainer for her father and in 1978 obtained her training license. The following year the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
became a true "Head" family affair. Winner Three Troikas
was owned by her mother Ghislaine Head, was ridden by Freddy Head, and trained by Criquette. Her victory in the most prestigious French horse race was the first ever by a female trainer.
The Head family has had a long association in horse racing with the Wertheimer family, proprietors of the House of Chanel
perfume company and owners of successful racing stables. Alec Head trained horses for both Pierre Wertheimer
(1887-1965) and his son Jacques
(1909-1996). In 1983, Criquette Head took over as Jacques Wertheimer's trainer and In 1986 she was the champion trainer in France. continued to have great success with him and his sons Alain
and Gerald
until they ended their working relationship in August 2006.
Criquette Head lives and trains in Chantilly and is president of the French Trainers' Association. A registered bloodstock agent since 1976, she trains for other notable stable owners such as Prince Khalid Abdullah, John T. L. Jones, Jr. and Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
.
Ms Head married journalist
Gilles Maarek in 2000 and has a daughter from a previous marriage. Diagnosed with cancer in 2005, her health problems affected her work in 2006 but she still has more than 100 horses under her care.
Partial list of races won by horses trained by Criquette Head :
France:
Canada:
Germany:
Great Britain:
Singapore:
United States:
Marly-le-Roi
Marly-le-Roi is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the centre....
, near Maisons-Laffitte
Maisons-Laffitte
Maisons-Laffitte is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the north-western suburbs of Paris from the center....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) is considered to be the leading female racehorse trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
in the world.
Known as Criquette, she was born into the Thoroughbred horse racing
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
business. Her great grandfather was a jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
-turned-trainer as was her grandfather William Head who was a very successful jockey, trainer, and owner in both flat racing
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
and steeplechase
Steeplechase (horse racing)
The steeplechase is a form of horse racing and derives its name from early races in which orientation of the course was by reference to a church steeple, jumping fences and ditches and generally traversing the many intervening obstacles in the countryside...
events. Her father, Alec Head
Alec Head
Alec Head was a prominent French horseman and breeder and the owner of Haras du Quesnay near Deauville. A descendant of the great trainers who founded the English Racing Colony in Chantilly, Oise, Head's grandfather was a jockey-turned-trainer, as was his father William Head who was a very...
, became a successful trainer and breeder
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
and the owner of Haras du Quesnay
Haras du Quesnay
Haras du Quesnay, known as "Le Quesnay", is a thoroughbred horse breeding farm in France about four miles outside the city of Deauville on 3 km², established in 1907 by wealthy American sportsman William Kissam Vanderbilt. He sold the property to another American horseman, A. Kingsley Macomber,...
near Deauville
Deauville
Deauville is a commune in the Calvados département in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.With its racecourse, harbour, international film festival, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino and sumptuous hotels, Deauville is regarded as the "queen of the Norman beaches" and...
. The eldest of three daughters, her brother Freddy Head
Freddy Head
Freddy Head is a retired champion jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing and currently a horse trainer. Known also as "Freddie", his grandfather was a jockey as was his father Alec Head who also became a successful trainer and owner of Haras du Quesnay near Deauville...
was the champion jockey six times in France who now trains horses, and sister Martine oversees the operations at Haras du Quesnay.
In her teens, Criquette Head studied for three years in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
at schools in Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
in East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
. She started riding ponies as a child then at age 18 began competing as a rider. Trilingual (French, English and Spanish), she lived in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
for several years before returning home in 1974 where she worked in a brokerage firm but decided on a career in racing. She began as an assistant trainer for her father and in 1978 obtained her training license. The following year the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
became a true "Head" family affair. Winner Three Troikas
Three Troikas
Three Troikas was a French Thoroughbred Champion Filly racehorse who was owned, trained, and raced by the three members of the famous Head family....
was owned by her mother Ghislaine Head, was ridden by Freddy Head, and trained by Criquette. Her victory in the most prestigious French horse race was the first ever by a female trainer.
The Head family has had a long association in horse racing with the Wertheimer family, proprietors of the House of Chanel
Chanel
Chanel S.A. is a French fashion house founded by the couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, well established in haute couture, specializing in luxury goods . She gained the name "Coco" while maintaining a career as a singer at a café in France...
perfume company and owners of successful racing stables. Alec Head trained horses for both Pierre Wertheimer
Pierre Wertheimer
Pierre Wertheimer was a French businessman.In October 1910, Pierre Wertheimer married Germaine Revel, a daughter of a stockbroker and a member of the Lazard family of investment bankers....
(1887-1965) and his son Jacques
Jacques Wertheimer
Jacques Guy Wertheimer was a prominent French businessman who inherited and ran the renowned House of Chanel perfume company...
(1909-1996). In 1983, Criquette Head took over as Jacques Wertheimer's trainer and In 1986 she was the champion trainer in France. continued to have great success with him and his sons Alain
Alain Wertheimer
Alain Wertheimer is a Jewish French businessman based in France who, with his brother Gerard own the controlling interest in the House of Chanel. The son of Jacques Wertheimer and Eliane Fischer, it was his grandfather Pierre who co-founded the Chanel business...
and Gerald
Gerard Wertheimer
Gerard Wertheimer is a Jewish French businessman based in France who owns and controls the House of Chanel perfume company in partnership with his brother, Alain....
until they ended their working relationship in August 2006.
Criquette Head lives and trains in Chantilly and is president of the French Trainers' Association. A registered bloodstock agent since 1976, she trains for other notable stable owners such as Prince Khalid Abdullah, John T. L. Jones, Jr. and Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also referred to as Sheikh Maktoum was the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the emir of Dubai.-Biography:...
.
Ms Head married journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Gilles Maarek in 2000 and has a daughter from a previous marriage. Diagnosed with cancer in 2005, her health problems affected her work in 2006 but she still has more than 100 horses under her care.
Partial list of races won by horses trained by Criquette Head :
France:
- Critérium de Saint-CloudCritérium de Saint-CloudThe Critérium de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in November....
(1994, 1997, 2007) - Critérium de Maisons-LaffitteCritérium de Maisons-LaffitteThe Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Maisons-Laffitte over a distance of 1,200 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October or early November.-History:The event was established in...
(1984, 1987, 1989, 1997, 1998) - Grand Prix de ChantillyGrand Prix de ChantillyThe Grand Prix de Chantilly is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late May or early June....
(1996, 2001) - La CoupeLa CoupeLa Coupe is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
(1987, 1988, 1989) - La Coupe de Maisons-LaffitteLa Coupe de Maisons-LaffitteLa Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte is a Group 3 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Maisons-Laffitte over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1906, and it...
(1986, 1990, 1993) - Poule d'Essai des PoulainsPoule d'Essai des PoulainsThe Poule d'Essai des Poulains, sometimes referred to as the French 2,000 Guineas, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts...
(2004) - Poule d'Essai des PoulichesPoule d'Essai des PoulichesThe Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, sometimes referred to as the French 1,000 Guineas, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
(1979, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1994, 1995, 1997) - Prix de l'Abbaye de LongchampPrix de l'Abbaye de LongchampThe Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged two years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.-History:The Prix de l'Abbaye was one of two major...
(1996) - Prix de l'Arc de TriomphePrix de l'Arc de TriompheThe Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
(1979) - Prix d'ArenbergPrix d'ArenbergThe Prix d'Arenberg is a Group 3 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 1,100 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:...
(1978, 1983, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2003) - Prix du CalvadosPrix du CalvadosThe Prix du Calvados is a Group 3 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
(1982, 1995) - Prix de DianePrix de DianeThe Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
(1982, 2000) - Prix EclipsePrix EclipseThe Prix Eclipse is a Group 3 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 1,200 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.-History:...
(1984, 1987, 1999) - Prix de la ForêtPrix de la ForêtThe Prix de la Forêt is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.-History:The race was established in 1858,...
(1983, 1990, 1997, 2002, 2003) - Prix d'IspahanPrix d'IspahanThe Prix d'Ispahan 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 1,850 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
(1995) - Prix du Jockey ClubPrix du Jockey ClubThe 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...
(1986) - Prix Jean-Luc LagardèrePrix Jean-Luc LagardèreThe Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.It is the oldest and most prestigious race in France...
(1982, 2000, 2003) - Prix Jean PratPrix Jean PratThe Prix Jean Prat 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 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:...
(1991, 1996, 2002) - Prix Marcel BoussacPrix Marcel BoussacThe Prix Marcel Boussac is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October....
(1992, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2008) - Prix Maurice de GheestPrix Maurice de GheestThe Prix Maurice de Gheest is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,300 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:...
(1988, 1996, 1997) - Prix MiesquePrix MiesqueThe Prix Miesque is a Group 3 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Maisons-Laffitte over a distance of 1,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October or early November.The event is named in honour of Miesque, a highly...
(2003, 2005, 2006) - Prix NoaillesPrix NoaillesThe Prix Noailles is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in April.-History:...
(1981, 1986, 1998) - Prix de l'OpéraPrix de l'OpéraThe Prix de l'Opéra is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.The event was established in 1974, and it was...
(1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992) - Prix Robert PapinPrix Robert PapinThe Prix Robert Papin is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Maisons-Laffitte over a distance of 1,100 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
(1982, 1985, 1987, 1992, 1993, 2009) - Prix Royal-OakPrix Royal-OakThe Prix Royal-Oak is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 3,100 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October.-History:The event was established in 1861, and it was initially...
(1984) - Prix Saint-AlaryPrix Saint-AlaryThe Prix Saint-Alary is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
(1979, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1991, 2003) - Prix de la SalamandrePrix de la SalamandreThe Prix de la Salamandre was a Group 1 flat horse race in France which was open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It was run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,400 metres , and it was scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1872, and it was...
(1982, 1985) - Prix VermeillePrix VermeilleThe Prix Vermeille is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1897, and it...
(1979)
Canada:
- E. P. Taylor StakesE. P. Taylor StakesThe E. P. Taylor Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares held annually since 1956 in October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario run on the and the E. P. Taylor turf course at a distance of 1¼ miles....
(1984, 1985, 1992)
Germany:
- Deutschland-PreisDeutschland-PreisThe Grosser Preis von Berlin, formerly known as the Deutschland-Preis, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older...
(1981)
Great Britain:
- 1,000 Guineas (1983, 1987, 1992, 2010)
- Champion StakesChampion StakesThe Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October...
(1993) - Cheveley Park StakesCheveley Park StakesThe Cheveley Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was...
(1982, 1987, 1996, 2009) - Coronation StakesCoronation StakesThe Coronation Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
(1993) - Falmouth StakesFalmouth StakesThe Falmouth Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:The event is named in honour of...
(1996) - July CupJuly CupThe July Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
(1996) - Racing Post TrophyRacing Post TrophyThe Racing Post Trophy is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October....
(2003) - Sprint CupHaydock Sprint CupThe Sprint Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early September....
(2008)
Singapore:
- Krisflyer SprintKrisFlyer International SprintThe KrisFlyer International Sprint is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid May at Kranji Racecourse in Singapore. Contested on turf over a left-handed course, the International Group 1 sprint race is run over a distance 1200 meters and is open to horses age three and older...
(2001)
United States:
- Beverly D. StakesBeverly D. StakesThe Beverly D. Stakes is a Grade 1 flat horse race in the United States for thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three-years-old and upward.The Beverly D. Stakes is the fillies' counterpart of the Arlington Million and is raced on the same day and on the same turf course at Arlington Park, Arlington...
(1994)