Prix Royal-Oak
| Location | Longchamp Racecourse Paris, France |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1861 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Website | france-galop.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3,100 metres (1m 7½f) |
| Track | Turf, right-handed |
| Qualification | Three-years-old and up |
| Weight | 55 kg (3yo); 59 kg (4yo+) Allowances 1½ kg for fillies and mares |
| Purse | €250,000 (2009) Distribution 1st: 57.14%, 2nd: 22.86% 3rd: 11.43%, 4th: 5.71% 5th: 2.86% |
The 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 (about 1 mile and 7½ furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October.
Contents |
[edit] History
The event was established in 1861, and it was initially called the Grand Prix du Prince Impérial. It was originally restricted to horses aged three, and in its early years it was contested over 3,200 metres. It was the French equivalent of the St. Leger Stakes, and it completed a full program of races based on the English "Classic" system. It followed the Poule d'Essai (Guineas), the Prix du Jockey Club (Derby) and the Prix de Diane (Oaks). The program was modified in 1863 with the introduction of a new race, the prestigious Grand Prix de Paris. This took place in June, and it was run over a similar distance to that of the Grand Prix du Prince Impérial.
The race was given its present name in 1869, and simultaneously its distance was shortened to 3,000 metres. The new title was in honour of Royal Oak (foaled 1823), a key stallion in the establishment of thoroughbred breeding in France.
The Prix Royal-Oak was abandoned throughout the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71) and World War I (1914–18), and it was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. It was temporarily switched to Le Tremblay in 1943 and 1944.
The event's distance was extended to 3,100 metres in 1964. When the present system of race grading began in 1971, the Prix Royal-Oak was classed at the highest level, Group 1. For a period it was held in mid September, but it was moved to late October in 1977. It was opened to horses aged four or older in 1979, and to geldings in 1986.
[edit] Records
Leading jockey (6 wins):
- Freddy Head – Dhaudevi (1968), Bourbon (1971), Busiris (1974), Gold River (1980), Agent Double (1984), Top Sunrise (1989)
Leading trainer (7 wins):
- François Mathet – Vamour (1959), Match (1961), Relko (1963), Reliance (1965), Sassafras (1970), Henri le Balafre (1975), Exceller (1976)
Leading owner (6 wins):
- Frédéric de Lagrange – Palestro (1861), Fille de l'Air (1864), Gladiateur (1865), Nelusco (1868), Inval (1878), Zut (1879)
[edit] Winners since 1969
1 Hallez finished first in 1970, but he was relegated to second place following a Stewards' Inquiry.
[edit] Earlier winners
- 1861 - Palestro
- 1862 - Souvenir
- 1863 - La Toucques
- 1864 - Fille de l'Air
- 1865 - Gladiateur
- 1866 - Etoile Filante
- 1867 - Patricien
- 1868 - Nelusco
- 1869 - Clotho
- 1870–71 - no race
- 1872 - Barbillon
- 1873 - Boiard
- 1874 - Mignonette
- 1875 - Perplexe
- 1876 - Kilt
- 1877 - Jongleur
- 1878 - Inval
- 1879 - Zut
- 1880 - Beauminet
- 1881 - Perplexite
- 1882 - Clio
- 1883 - Stockholm
- 1884 - Archiduc
- 1885 - Escarboucle
- 1886 - Gamin
- 1887 - Bavarde
- 1888 - Galaor
- 1889 - Pourtant
- 1890 - Alicante
- 1891 - Berenger
- 1892 - Chene Royal
- 1893 - Ramleh
- 1894 - Gouvernail
- 1895 - Bombon
- 1896 - Champaubert
- 1897 - Chambertin
- 1898 - Le Roi Soleil
- 1899 - Perth
- 1900 - Ivoire
- 1901 - Jacobite
- 1902 - Fer
- 1903 - Tarquato Tasso
- 1904 - Macdonald II
- 1905 - Clyde
- 1906 - Maintenon
- 1907 - Anemone
- 1908 - Medeah
- 1909 - Aveu
- 1910 - Reinhart
- 1911 - Combourg
- 1912 - Gorgorito
- 1913 - Bruleur
- 1914–18 - no race
- 1919 - Stearine
- 1920 - Embry
- 1921 - Ksar
- 1922 - Keror
- 1923 - Filibert de Savoie
- 1924 - Uganda
- 1925 - Priori
- 1926 - Biribi
- 1927 - Fiterari
- 1928 - Cacao
- 1929 - Calandria
- 1930 - Taicoun
- 1931 - Deiri
- 1932 - Laeken
- 1933 - Jumbo
- 1934 - Brantome
- 1935 - Bokbul
- 1936 - Fantastic
- 1937 - Victrix
- 1938 - Eclair au Chocolat
- 1939–40 - no race
- 1941 - Le Pacha
- 1942 - Tifinar
- 1943 - Verso II
- 1944 - Samaritain
- 1945 - Caracalla
- 1946 - Souverain
- 1947 - Tourment
- 1948 - Spooney
- 1949 - Ciel Etoile
- 1950 - Pan
- 1951 - Stymphale
- 1952 - Feu du Diable
- 1953 - Buisson d'Or
- 1954 - Sica Boy
- 1955 - Macip
- 1956 - Arabian
- 1957 - Scot
- 1958 - Wallaby
- 1959 - Vamour
- 1960 - Puissant Chef
- 1961 - Match
- 1962 - Sicilian Prince
- 1963 - Relko
- 1964 - Barbieri
- 1965 - Reliance
- 1966 - Vasco de Gama
- 1967 - Samos
- 1968 - Dhaudevi
[edit] References
- Racing Post:
- galop.courses-france.com:
- france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix Royal-Oak.
- horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Royal-Oak (2009).
- pedigreequery.com – Prix Royal-Oak – Longchamp.
[edit] See also
- List of French flat horse races
- Recurring events established in 1861 – this race is included under its original title, Grand Prix du Prince Impérial.
