Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte
| Location | Maisons-Laffitte France |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1891 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Website | france-galop.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1,200 metres (6f) |
| Track | Turf, straight |
| Qualification | Two-year-olds |
| Weight | 57 kg Allowances 1½ kg for fillies |
| Purse | €190,000 (2009) Distribution 1st: 57%, 2nd: 22% 3rd: 10.5%, 4th: 7% 5th: 3.5% |
The 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 (about 6 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October or early November.
Contents |
[edit] History
The event was established in 1891, and it was originally held in September. It served as a trial for the Grand Critérium, which used to take place in mid October. It was initially contested over 1,400 metres, but it was cut to 1,200 metres in 1897. It was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1914 to 1919. Its distance was extended to 1,500 metres in 1922.
The Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. It was then switched temporarily to Longchamp (1941–42, 1945) and Le Tremblay (1944), and at the latter venue it was contested over 1,400 metres. The race was abandoned in 1948, and its regular length was cut to 1,400 metres in 1952.
When the present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte was classed at Group 2 level. It was moved to its current slot, late October or early November, in 1981. It was run at Evry over 1,300 metres in 1995 and 1996, and during this period it was called the Critérium des Deux Ans. Its distance reverted to 1,400 metres in 1997, and it was cut to 1,200 metres in 2001.
[edit] Records
Leading jockey (4 wins):
- Freddy Head – Rimesault (1968), Rose Laurel (1972), Vallee des Fleurs (1977), Rapide Pied (1984)
- Philippe Paquet – Crowned Music (1978), Viteric (1979), Cresta Rider (1980), Zino (1981)
Leading trainer (9 wins):
- François Boutin – Speedy Dakota (1974), Crowned Music (1978), Viteric (1979), Cresta Rider (1980), Zino (1981), L'Emigrant (1982), Procida (1983), Corviglia (1988), Ganges (1990)
Leading owner (9 wins):
- Marcel Boussac – Ramus (1921), Nosca (1941), Sandjar (1946), Djeddah (1947), Pharad (1951), Albanilla (1953), Janiari (1955), Floriana (1958), Perello (1976)
[edit] Winners since 1978
1 The 1995 and 1996 runnings took place at Evry.
[edit] Earlier winners
- 1891 - Idalie
- 1892 - Commandeur
- 1893 - L'Herault
- 1894 - Cherbourg
- 1895 - Champignol
- 1896 -
- 1897 - Artisan
- 1898 - Holocauste
- 1899 -
- 1900 - Butor
- 1901 -
- 1902 - Hebron
- 1903 - French Fox
- 1904 - Val d'Or
- 1905 - Prestige
- 1906 - Peroraison
- 1907 - Northeast
- 1908 - Azalee
- 1909 - Nuage
- 1910 - Nectarine
- 1911 - Montrose
- 1912 - Coupesarte
- 1913 - Listman
- 1914–19 - no race
- 1920 - Cortland
- 1921 - Ramus
- 1922 - Epinard
- 1923 -
- 1924 - Melisande
- 1925 - Apelle
- 1926 - Fenimore Cooper *
- 1927 - Mourad
- 1928 - Florio
- 1929 -
- 1930 - Indus
- 1931 -
- 1932 - Le Cacique
- 1933 - Boucan
- 1934 - Clain
- 1935 - Alejo
- 1936 - May Wong
- 1937 - Blue Star
- 1938 - Birikil
- 1939–40 - no race
- 1941 - Nosca
- 1942 - Pensbury
- 1943 - Turquoise
- 1944 -
- 1945 - Tourmente
- 1946 - Sandjar
- 1947 - Djeddah
- 1948 - no race
- 1949 - Fort Napoleon
- 1950 - Le Tyrol
- 1951 - Pharad
- 1952 - Fort de France
- 1953 - Albanilla
- 1954 - Soleil Royal
- 1955 - Janiari
- 1956 - Achaz
- 1957 - Bella Paola
- 1958 - Floriana
- 1959 -
- 1960 - Star
- 1961 - Lebon M L
- 1962 -
- 1963 - Soleil d'Or
- 1964 - Sea Bird
- 1965 - Hauban
- 1966 - Gazala
- 1967 - Pola Bella
- 1968 - Rimesault
- 1969 - Faraway Son
- 1970 - Round Top
- 1971 - Steel Pulse
- 1972 - Rose Laurel
- 1973 - Wittgenstein
- 1974 - Speedy Dakota
- 1975 - Earth Spirit
- 1976 - Perello
- 1977 - Vallee des Fleurs *
* Jopp finished first in 1926, but was relegated to second place following a stewards' inquiry.
* Cosmopolitan was first in 1977, but he was placed second after a stewards' inquiry.
[edit] References
- Racing Post:
- galop.courses-france.com:
- france-galop.com – A Brief History: Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte.
- horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (2009).
- pedigreequery.com – Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte – Maisons-Laffitte.