Grand Prix de Vichy-Auvergne
Encyclopedia
The Grand Prix de Vichy-Auvergne is a Group 3
flat
horse race
in France
open to thoroughbred
s aged three years or older. It is run at Vichy
over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.
The title was appended with "et de la Société de Sport de France" in 1958. The Société de Sport de France owned the racecourse, and it later merged with similar organisations to form France Galop
. The event reverted to its original name in 1965, and it was run as a handicap in 1970. It was given Group 3 status in 1976.
The name of the region in which Vichy is located, Auvergne
, was added to the race's title in 2005.
The race has been contested over various distances, with spells over 2,600 metres (1900–41, 1943–64, 1966–75), 2,400 metres (1976–91) and 2,000 metres (since 1992).
Most successful horse (2 wins):
----
Leading jockey
(4 wins):
----
Leading trainer
(4 wins):
----
Leading owner (7 wins):
2 Le Chatelet finished first in 1929, but he was disqualified for obstruction.
Recurring sporting events established in 1875 – this race is included under its original title, Grand Prix de Vichy.
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
flat
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...
horse race
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
in 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...
open to thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
s aged three years or older. It is run at Vichy
Vichy
Vichy is a commune in the department of Allier in Auvergne in central France. It belongs to the historic province of Bourbonnais.It is known as a spa and resort town and was the de facto capital of Vichy France during the World War II Nazi German occupation from 1940 to 1944.The town's inhabitants...
over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.
History
The event was established in 1875, and it was originally called the Grand Prix de Vichy. It was run as a handicap until 1899, and during this period its distance was frequently modified. For several years thereafter it was titled the Grand Prix International du Cercle de Vichy. It was abandoned in 1907, and it became known as the Grand Prix de la Ville de Vichy the following year.The title was appended with "et de la Société de Sport de France" in 1958. The Société de Sport de France owned the racecourse, and it later merged with similar organisations to form France Galop
France Galop
France Galop is the governing body of flat and steeplechase horse racing in France. It was founded on May 3, 1995 as the result of the amalgamation of four different industry organizations...
. The event reverted to its original name in 1965, and it was run as a handicap in 1970. It was given Group 3 status in 1976.
The name of the region in which Vichy is located, Auvergne
Auvergne (région)
Auvergne is one of the 27 administrative regions of France. It comprises the 4 departments of Allier, Puy de Dome, Cantal and Haute Loire.The current administrative region of Auvergne is larger than the historical province of Auvergne, and includes provinces and areas that historically were not...
, was added to the race's title in 2005.
The race has been contested over various distances, with spells over 2,600 metres (1900–41, 1943–64, 1966–75), 2,400 metres (1976–91) and 2,000 metres (since 1992).
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Shikani – 1960, 1961
- Perouges – 1979, 1980
- Marildo – 1993, 1995
- Touch of Land – 2005, 2006
----
Leading 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:...
(4 wins):
- Jean Massard – Romantisme (1953), Bewitched (1955), Lord Jack (1981), Nature (1984)
- Guy Guignard – Sophora (1973), Lauville (1985), Marildo (1993, 1995)
- Christophe SoumillonChristophe SoumillonChristophe Soumillon is a Belgian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Career:Raised in a horse racing family, he is the son of a horse jumping jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon. Christophe Soumillon apprenticed at Chantilly Racecourse in Chantilly, France to Cédric Boutin, and won his first race in...
– Kerrygold (2000), Vangelis (2003), Bailador (2004), Daly Daly (2009)
----
Leading 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...
(4 wins):
- James Cunnington – Marichette (1881), Dacis (1891), Machiavel (1898), Kerlaz (1900)
- Robert Denman – Gouvernant (1904), Marsa (1910), Checkmate (1923), Alguazil (1926, dead-heat)
- Antoine Lassard – Yakoba (1934), Ortolan (1935), Champittet (1941), Clodoche (1943)
----
Leading owner (7 wins):
- Marcel BoussacMarcel BoussacMarcel Boussac was a French entrepreneur best known for his ownership of the Maison Dior and one of the most successful thoroughbred race horse breeding farms in European history....
– Grillemont (1924, dead-heat), Alguazil (1926, dead-heat), Thaouka (1932), Dadji (1937), Coaraze (1947), Amphis (1952), Shaker (1954)
Winners since 1979
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
| 1979 | Perouges | 4 | Jacques Le Deunf | Alain Lyon | André Rivière | |
| 1980 | Perouges | 5 | Jacques Le Deunf | Alain Lyon | André Rivière | |
| 1981 | Lord Jack | 4 | Jean Massard | Henri Gleizes | Mrs François Elion | |
| 1982 | Karkour | 4 | Yves Saint-Martin Yves Saint-Martin Yves Saint-Martin is a retired champion jockey in French Thoroughbred horse racing. He is widely considered one of the greatest riders in French racing history.... |
Joseph Audon | Ecurie Manhattan | |
| 1983 | Terreno | 5 | Yves Saint-Martin Yves Saint-Martin Yves Saint-Martin is a retired champion jockey in French Thoroughbred horse racing. He is widely considered one of the greatest riders in French racing history.... |
François Boutin François Boutin François Boutin was a French Thoroughbred horse trainer. The son of a farmer, he was born in the village of Beaunay in the northerly Seine Maritime département. He began riding horses at a young age and competed in show jumping and cross-country equestrianism... |
Gerry Oldham | |
| 1984 | Nature | 6 | Jean Massard | François Elion | Mrs Jean Carlier | |
| 1985 | Lauville | 4 | Guy Guignard | Gérard Philippeau | Marie-Louise Blain | |
| 1986 | Agent Double | 5 | Gary W. Moore | Criquette Head Criquette Head-Maarek Christiane "Criquette" Head is considered to be the leading female racehorse trainer in the world.Known as Criquette, she was born into the Thoroughbred horse racing business... |
Jacques Wertheimer Jacques Wertheimer Jacques Guy Wertheimer was a prominent French businessman who inherited and ran the renowned House of Chanel perfume company... |
|
| 1987 | Sarepta | 6 | Robert Laplanche | Louis Boulard | Jacques Bedel | 2:25.70 |
| 1988 | Altashar | 3 | Eric Saint-Martin | Alain de Royer-Dupré Alain de Royer-Dupré Alain de Royer-Dupré is a leading French thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He grew up at the Haras de Saint Lô, a national stud farm in Normandy of which his father was Assistant Director and later Director, responsible for government-owned stallions based at farms in the local... |
HH Aga Khan IV Aga Khan IV Prince Karim, Aga Khan IV, NPk, NI, KBE, CC, GCC, GCIH, GCM is the 49th and current Imam of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims. He has held this position under the title of Aga Khan since July 11, 1957, when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan... |
2:29.45 |
| 1989 | Prince Ruffian | 4 | Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born Brian Keith Asmussen, in 1977 he legally changed his name to "Cash". From a Texas horse racing family, his parents, Keith and Marilyn "Sis" Asmussen, operate a ranch in Laredo, Texas... |
François Bellenger | Dominique Boulloche | 2:34.40 |
| 1990 | North Col | 3 | Tony Cruz Anthony S. Cruz Anthony S. "Tony" Cruz is a prominent horse trainer and former Champion Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Early life:Son of J. M. da Cruz, himself a well-known jockey, Tony Cruz is of Portuguese descent... |
Jonathan Pease Jonathan E. Pease Jonathan Edward Pease is a member of the area's prominent Pease family and a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.... |
Simon Emmet | 2:29.00 |
| 1991 | Danae de Brule | 4 | Robert Laplanche | Maurice Prod'homme | Léon Seile | 2:34.50 |
| 1992 | Goofalik | 5 | Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born Brian Keith Asmussen, in 1977 he legally changed his name to "Cash". From a Texas horse racing family, his parents, Keith and Marilyn "Sis" Asmussen, operate a ranch in Laredo, Texas... |
John Hammond John E. Hammond John E. Hammond is a Thoroughbred horse trainer in France.Based in Chantilly, Oise, Hammond has trained numerous Group One winners including Montjeu and Suave Dancer both of whom won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, France's most prestigious horse race... |
David Thompson | 2:03.30 |
| 1993 | Marildo | 6 | Guy Guignard | David Smaga | David Smaga | 2:02.30 |
| 1994 | Mint Crisp | 4 | Olivier Doleuze Olivier Doleuze Olivier Doleuze is a French born jockey and is considered to be one of the world's premier jockeys. Doleuze began riding at the age of 14, and currently has over 700 career wins.-Major wins: France... |
Dominique Sépulchre | Mrs A. Rogers | 2:08.70 |
| 1995 | Marildo | 8 | Guy Guignard | David Smaga | David Smaga | 2:05.50 |
| 1996 | Bulington | 4 | Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born Brian Keith Asmussen, in 1977 he legally changed his name to "Cash". From a Texas horse racing family, his parents, Keith and Marilyn "Sis" Asmussen, operate a ranch in Laredo, Texas... |
Henri-Alex Pantall | Philippe Pierry | 2:04.20 |
| 1997 | Baroud d'Honneur | 4 | Franck Blondel | Jean-François Bernard | Axelle Nègre | 2:05.10 |
| 1998 | Steward | 5 | Sylvain Guillot Sylvain Guillot Sylvain Guillot is a French jockey. He is married to the sister of fellow jockey Yannick Fouin and has one son, Thomas.For three years from about 1987, Guillot did an apprenticeship with Jean-François Daubin at Maisons-Laffitte... |
Dominique Sépulchre | Georges Coude | 2:06.50 |
| 1999 | Victory Cry | 3 | Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier is a thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Peslier competes in flat racing mainly in France but travels often around the world for the big international races.... |
André Fabre André Fabre André Fabre is a French thoroughbred horse racing trainer.The son of a diplomat, Fabre graduated from university with a law degree but then decided to pursue a career in thoroughbred horse racing. He began by working in the stables as a groom then as a schooling rider... |
Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Leopold Wildenstein was a French art dealer and scholar, as well as a leading thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder.... |
2:05.30 |
| 2000 | Kerrygold | 4 | Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon is a Belgian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Career:Raised in a horse racing family, he is the son of a horse jumping jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon. Christophe Soumillon apprenticed at Chantilly Racecourse in Chantilly, France to Cédric Boutin, and won his first race in... |
Pascal Bary Pascal Bary Pascal Bary is a French racehorse trainer.He has been training since 1981, having previously worked as an assistant to François Boutin... |
Antonia Devin | 2:08.60 |
| 2001 | Boismorand | 5 | Vincent Vion | Melchior Mathet | Maurice Clifford | 2:09.20 |
| 2002 | Cheshire | 5 | Yutaka Take Yutaka Take is a Japanese jockey who is a multiple champion in his homeland and won the Japan Cup in 1999 on the horse Special Week... |
John Hammond John E. Hammond John E. Hammond is a Thoroughbred horse trainer in France.Based in Chantilly, Oise, Hammond has trained numerous Group One winners including Montjeu and Suave Dancer both of whom won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, France's most prestigious horse race... |
Peter Willmott | 2:06.40 |
| 2003 | Vangelis | 4 | Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon is a Belgian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Career:Raised in a horse racing family, he is the son of a horse jumping jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon. Christophe Soumillon apprenticed at Chantilly Racecourse in Chantilly, France to Cédric Boutin, and won his first race in... |
Alain de Royer-Dupré Alain de Royer-Dupré Alain de Royer-Dupré is a leading French thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He grew up at the Haras de Saint Lô, a national stud farm in Normandy of which his father was Assistant Director and later Director, responsible for government-owned stallions based at farms in the local... |
Napping Ltd | 2:08.90 |
| 2004 | Bailador | 4 | Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon is a Belgian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Career:Raised in a horse racing family, he is the son of a horse jumping jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon. Christophe Soumillon apprenticed at Chantilly Racecourse in Chantilly, France to Cédric Boutin, and won his first race in... |
André Fabre André Fabre André Fabre is a French thoroughbred horse racing trainer.The son of a diplomat, Fabre graduated from university with a law degree but then decided to pursue a career in thoroughbred horse racing. He began by working in the stables as a groom then as a schooling rider... |
Edouard E. de Rothschild Edouard Etienne de Rothschild Édouard Etienne Alphonse de Rothschild is a businessman and part of the French branch of the prominent Rothschild family. He is the son of Guy de Rothschild and Marie-Hélène van Zuylen van Nyevelt .-Background:Édouard de Rothschild studied law in France and in 1985 graduated with an M.B.A... |
2:08.64 |
| 2005 | Touch of Land | 5 | Christophe Lemaire Christophe Lemaire Christophe Patrice Lemaire is a French-born jockey. He takes his middle name from his father, who made a name for himself in the world of French handicap racing.In 1999 he obtained the licence required for a French jockey, and began racing... |
Henri-Alex Pantall | Gary A. Tanaka | 2:03.80 |
| 2006 | Touch of Land | 6 | Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier is a thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Peslier competes in flat racing mainly in France but travels often around the world for the big international races.... |
Henri-Alex Pantall | Gary A. Tanaka | 2:10.19 |
| 2007 | Atlantic Air | 5 | Thierry Thulliez Thierry Thulliez -Major wins: France* Critérium International - French Fifteen * Prix d'Astarté - - Darjina * Prix de Diane - - Carling * Prix Jacques Le Marois - - Six Perfections ... |
Yves de Nicolay | Antonia Devin | 2:35.15 |
| 2008 | Hapsburg | 4 | Ioritz Mendizabal | Eric Libaud | Jean Luck | 2:05.45 |
| 2009 | Daly Daly | 5 | Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon is a Belgian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Career:Raised in a horse racing family, he is the son of a horse jumping jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon. Christophe Soumillon apprenticed at Chantilly Racecourse in Chantilly, France to Cédric Boutin, and won his first race in... |
Robert Laplanche | Bernard Giraudon | 2:12.12 |
| 2010 | Agent Secret | 4 | François-Xavier Bertras | François Rohaut | Raoul Temam | 2:15.12 |
| 2011 | Cirrus des Aigles | 5 | Franck Blondel | Corine Barande-Barbe | J. C. A. Dupouy | 2:14.00 |
Earlier winners
1 The 1924 and 1926 races were dead-heats and have joint winners.2 Le Chatelet finished first in 1929, but he was disqualified for obstruction.
See also
Recurring sporting events established in 1875 – this race is included under its original title, Grand Prix de Vichy.