All the races

Prix du Jockey Club. Chantilly. (3-year-olds, 1 mile 2 ½ furlongs, Group I, 1,500,000 Euros).

Regarded by purists to be the most important of all French Classic races, the “French Derby” as it is known, was one of the very first created by the Société d'Encouragement pour l'amélioration des races de chevaux en France, founded on 11 November 1833 in order to promote thoroughbred racing in France.

The very first Prix du Jockey Club was run at Chantilly on 24 April 1836 over a mile 4 ½ furlongs. It was run at this distance till 1842, when it was reduced to 12 furlongs… until 2005, when it was cut again, to 1 mile 2 ½ furlongs. The Prix du Jockey Club was postponed in 1871, from 1915 to 1918 and in 1940. It was run in Versailles in 1848, at Longchamp in 1919, 1920, 1941, 1942, 1945, 1946 and 1947, and at Tremblay in 1943 and 1944 (over 1 mile 3 ½ furlongs). A record number of 28 horses went to post in 1942, when Magister won the race. The fastest time was in 1986 when Bering covered the mile and a half in 2' 24'' 10/100. In 2006, Darsi completed the mile 2 ½ furlongs course in 2' 05'' 80/100.

A dead heat has been declared five times at the finish of the Prix du Jockey Club. Twice, the owners opted to rerun the event to obtain a winner. Renonce won in this way (at the expense of Prospero) in 1843, as did Lion (to the detriment of Diamant) in 1856. On the subsequent three occasions, the owners chose to split the prize: in 1882, Dandin and Saint-James shared the spoils, as did Upas and Sycomore in 1886 and Sea Sick and Quintette in 1908. The probable reason for this change in thinking was the creation of the Grand Prix de Paris, as the owners were now loathe to subject their horses to a further effort only two weeks before the big event at Longchamp. The narrowest-ever margin of victory came when Ragmar finished a nose in front of Polaris Flight in 1996, while the greatest winning distance was Old Vic’s seven-length triumph in 1989. Close behind him with six-length wins are Alcantara II (1911) and Holding Court (2000). Four “late entries” have won the race: Natroun (1987), Polytain (1992), Celtic Swing (1995) and Holding Court (2000). In 2012, the Prix du Jockey Club will be run for the 172nd time.

A brief history.
The name Jockey Club was chosen in homage to the English equivalent of the Société d'Encouragement based at Newmarket in England, the cradle of thoroughbred horseracing. The code of the body that has governed British racing since 1752 was copied, and the name Jockey Club given to the event created by the Société at Chantilly in 1836 in the image of the Derby (held at Epsom since 1780), the ultimate test for top thoroughbreds. What’s more, the Cercle (today, 2, Rue Rabelais in Paris) which the Société opened in 1834, soon became commonly known as the Jockey Club.

The first Prix du Jockey Club run on 24 April 1836 had five starters. Its winner was Frank, bred at the Glatigny stud farm close to Versailles and trained by Thomas Carter. His jockey Tom Robinson (aged twenty-six) wore the colours (orange jersey, black cap) of Lord Seymour, who recorded further wins in the event in the following two years, and then a fourth in 1841. In 1839, the victor was Romulus, a protégé of the Meudon royal stud who bore the colours (scarlet jersey, dark blue cap) of the Duc d'Orléans, the son of King Louis-Philippe. 1840 brought a first Norman success with Tontine, bred in the Calvados region at the Victot stud, and owned by Eugene Aumont (white jersey, green cap).

Two different horses with the same name, Monarque, have prevailed in the Prix du Jockey Club. The first (presumed to be the son of The Emperor) triumphed in 1855 for his breeder Alexandre Aumont, brother of the aforementioned Eugene. The second (son of Saxifrage) took the plaudits in 1887 on behalf of Paul Aumont, Alexandre’s son. The first also proved to be a remarkable breeder at the Dangu stud for the Comte de Lagrange, who had acquired the premises in 1856. For the second, who suffered from intermittent lameness, it proved to be the only victory of his career.

Fillies in the Jockey Club. 
Eight fillies have won the Prix du Jockey Club: Lydia in 1837, Tontine in 1840, Poetess in 1841, Lanterne in 1844, Jouvence in 1853, Gabrielle d'Estrées in 1861, La Toucques in 1863 and Saltarelle in 1874. The last time a filly finished in the running was in 1958 when Bella Paola finished second, three-quarters of a length behind Tamanar and then again in 2008 when Natagora came in third behind Vision d’Etat and Famous Name Two other fillies to recently run in the Prix du Jockey Club were Paix Blanche (1992) and Moonlight Dance (1994), both of whom wore the colours of Daniel Wildenstein.

Foreigners in the Jockey Club.
Until 1946, the Prix du Jockey Club was only open to horses born and bred in France. Although this restriction was lifted after the war, foreign horses generally stayed away. It wasn’t until 1975 that a foreigner finished in the frame, when the English horse, Patch, came in second. Two years later the Irish bred Artaius also finished runner-up. 1982 heralded the first foreign winner when Robert Sangster’s Assert, trained in Ireland by David O'Brien came in first. Another Sangster horse, Caerleon, also trained in the Emerald Isle, this time by the great Vincent O'Brien, David’s father, won the following year. A Sangster/O’Brien hat-trick was foiled the following year when Darshaan finished ahead of Sadler's Wells, the future champion at stud. The first English win came in 1989 with Old Vic trained at Newmarket by Henry Cecil. The feat was repeated in 1990 when another English horse, Sanglamore, trained by Roger Charlton, was first past the post. The visitors now have seven wins to their name, courtesy of a trio of English colts: in 1995, Celtic Swing, trained by Lady Harries at Arundel, Holding Court in 2000, trained at Newmarket by Michael Jarvis and Shamardal in 2005, trained by Saeed Bin Suroor, also at Newmarket.

Jockey Club, Derby and Arc de Triomphe.
The Prix du Jockey Club and the English Derby are run too close together to allow horses to run in both races in the same year. There have been a few exceptions, however. In 1878, Insulaire, won at Chantilly on the Sunday and finished second out of 22 runners at Epsom the following Wednesday. In 1914, Durbar won at Epsom on 27 May, before managing fourth at Chantilly on 14 June.

A better bet after the Prix du Jockey Club is the Irish Sweeps Derby at the Curragh, which is usually run around a month later. Four horses have managed the double: Assert (1982), Old Vic (1989), Dream Well (1998) and Montjeu (1999). The last horse to attempt this double was Dalakhani in 2003, but he failed when he was pipped by a half-length at the Curragh by his stable mate Alamshar.

Nine Prix du Jockey Club winners have gone on to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (first run in 1920). They are: Ksar (1921), Mon Talisman (1927), Le Pacha (1941), Verso II (1943), Ardan (1944), Suave Dancer (1991), Peintre Célèbre (1997), Montjeu (1999) and Dalakhani (2003).

And six Prix du Jockey Club runners up have later won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: Biribi (1926), Kantar (1928), Tantième (1950, 1951), Bon Mot (1966), Trempolino (1987) and Subotica (1992).

Sponsorship.
Le Prix du Jockey Club was sponsored between 1985 and 1993 by car manufacturers Lancia, then from 1994 to 2000 by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and in 2006 by Mitsubishi Motors.

Owners.
The record of twelve victories is held by Marcel Boussac: Ramus (1922), Tourbillon (1931), Thor (1933), Cillas (1938), Pharis (1939), Ardan (1944), Coaraze (1945), Sandjar (1947), Scratch (1950), Auriban (1952), Philius (1956) and Acamas (1978).

Next come:
8 Comte Frédéric de Lagrange: Ventre Saint Gris (1858), Black Prince (1859), Gabrielle d'Estrées (1861), Consul (1869), Insulaire (1878), Zut (1879), Albion (1881) and Dandin (1882).
7 Prince Karim Aga Khan: Charlottesville (1960), Top Ville (1979), Darshaan (1984), Mouktar (1985), Natroun (1987), Dalakhani (2003) and Darsi (2006).
6 Auguste Lupin: Gambetti (1848), Saint-Germain (1850), Amalfi (1851), Jouvence (1853), Potocki (1857) and Salvator (1875).
6 Prince Karim Aga Khan: Charlottesville (1960), Top Ville (1979), Darshaan (1984), Mouktar (1985), Natroun (1987) and Dalakhani (2003).
5 Baron Arthur de Schickler: Suzerain (1868), Sycomore (1886), Chêne Royal (1892) Ragotsky (1893) and Palmiste (1897).
4 Edmond Blanc*: Clover (1889), Saxon (1901), Ajax (1904) and Dagor (1913).
4 Alexandre Aumont: Fitz Emilius (1845), Morok (1847), Porthos (1852) and Monarque (1855).
4 Henri Delamarre: Bois Roussel (1864), Florentin (1866), Patricien (1867) and Boïard (1873).
4 William-K. Vanderbilt: Maintenon (1906), Sea Sick (1908), Négofol (1909) and Tchad (1919).
3 Michel Ephrussi: Saint-James (1882), Gospodar (1894) and Finasseur (1905).
3 Edouard Martinez de Hoz: Belfonds (1925), Mon Talisman (1927) and Clairvoyant (1937).
3 Jean-Louis Bouchard**: Celtic Arms (1994), Ragmar (1996) and Blue Canari (2004).
2 Prince Marc de Beauvau: Lanterne (1844) and Lion (1856).
2 Major Fridolin: Gontran (1865) and Bigarreau (1870).
2 Paul Aumont: Revigny (1872) and Monarque (1887).
2 Baron Alphonse de Rothschild: Kilt (1876) and Heaume (1890).
2 Duc de Castries: Frontin (1883) and Little Duck (1884).
2 Comte de Rivaud: Le Corrège (1928) and Château Bouscaut (1931).
2 Edward Esmond: Hotweed (1929) and Pearlweed (1935).
2 Arpad Plesch: Tapalqué (1968) and Sassafras (1970).
2 Robert Sangster: Assert (1982) and Caerleon (1983).
2 the Niarchos Family***: Dream Well (1998) and Sulamani (2002). .

* He could also claim a fifth win in 1921 when Ksar, owned by his wife Mrs. Edmond Blanc, triumphed in her husband’s colours just seven months after his death.
** He was also a half-partner in Dream Well with the Niarchos family.
*** Stavros Niarchos has a personal victory to his name with Hernando in 1993.

Trainers.
The record of ten victories is held by Tom Jennings: Porthos (1852), Monarque (1855), Ventre Saint Gris (1858), Black Prince (1859), Gabrielle d'Estrées (1861), Consul (1869), Insulaire (1878), Zut (1879), Albion (1881) and Dandin (1882). The first two were owned by Alexandre Aumont, the other eight by Comte Frédéric de Lagrange.

Next come:
6 Thomas Carter: Frank (1836), Lydia (1837), Vendredi (1838), Meudon (1846), Experience (1849) and Celebrity (1854).
6 François Mathet: Reliance (1965), Tapalqué (1968), Sassafras (1970), Rheffic (1971), Crystal Palace (1977) and Top Ville (1979).
6 Charles Semblat: Ardan (1944), Coaraze (1945), Sandjar (1947), Scratch (1950), Auriban (1952) and Le Petit Prince (1954).
6 Alain de Royer-Dupré: Darshaan (1984), Mouktar (1985), Natroun (1987), Dalakhani (2003), Darsi (2006) and Reliable Man (2011).
5 Frank Carter: Belfonds (1925), Mon Talisman (1927), Hotweed (1929), Pearlweed (1935) and Clairvoyant (1937).
5 William Duke: Maintenon (1906), Sea Sick (1908), Négofol (1909), Tchad (1919) and Pot au Feu (1924).
5 William Webb: Sycomore (1886), Chêne Royal (1892) Ragotsky (1893), Palmiste (1897) and Ex Voto (1903).
5 Pascal Bary: Celtic Arms (1994), Ragmar (1996), Dream Well (1998), Sulamani (2002) and Blue Canari (2004).
4 Thomas Hurst: Tontine (1840), Plover (1842), Fitz Emilius (1845) and Morok (1847).
4 Thomas-Richard Carter: Bois Roussel (1864), Florentin (1866), Patricien (1867) and Boïard (1873).
4 Henry Jennings (elder brother of Tom): Lanterne (1844), Lion (1856), Revigny (1872) and Jongleur (1877).
4 Alain de Royer-Dupré: Darshaan (1984), Mouktar (1985), Natroun (1987) and Dalakhani (2003).
3 H. Neale: Gambetti (1848), Saint Germain (1850) and Amalfi (1851).
3 Thomas Carter nephew: Saltarelle (1874), Frontin (1883) and Little Duck (1884).
3 Robert Denman: Saxon (1901), Ajax (1904) and Dagor (1913).
3 Alec Head: Charlottesville (1960), Roi Lear (1973) and Val de l'Orne (1975).
3 Alain de Royer-Dupré: Darshaan (1984), Mouktar (1985) and Natroun (1987).
2 Charles Pratt: Gontran (1865) and Bigarreau (1870).
2 Richard Carter junior: Beauminet (1880) and Perth (1899).
2 George Cunnington: Saint-James (1882) and Gospodar (1894).
2 Edgar Rolfe: Reluisant (1885) and Omnium II (1895).
2 Richard Count: Gardefeu (1898) and Quintette (1908).
2 James d'Okhuysen: Finasseur (1905) and Sardanapale (1914).
2 Lucien Robert: Le Corrège (1928) and Château Bouscaut (1930).
2 William Hall: Tourbillon (1931) and Thor (1933).
2 Albert Swann: Cillas (1938) and Pharis (1939).
2 John Cunnington: Le Pacha (1941) and Tamanar (1958).
2 Richard Carver: Bey (1948) and Amber (1957).
2 Max Bonaventure: Sicambre (1951) and Val de Loir (1962).
2 Etienne Pollet: Right Royal (1961) and Sanctus (1963).
2 William Head: Le Fabuleux (1964) and Goodly (1969).
2 François Boutin: Caracolero (1974) and Hernando (1993).
2 Patrick Biancone: Bikala (1981) and Hours After (1988).
2 John Hammond: Suave Dancer (1991) and Montjeu (1999).
2 André Fabre: Peintre Célèbre (1997) and Lope de Vega (2010).

Only two lady trainers have won the Prix du Jockey Club: Christiane Head (Bering in 1986) and Lady Herries (Celtic Swing in 1995).

Note
Trainers’ names only appeared in the race report (Calendrier des courses and Chronique du Turf) from 1890 onwards. Certain racing correspondents do not believe Thomas Jennings trained all the Count de Lagrange’s winners but that some were trained at his Royallieu and Dangu stables. The very well respected Le Sport (1882) paper, however, considered all the horses to be trained by Tom Jennings. At the time, all the count’s best horses, whether French or English, were systematically sent to be trained by Tom Jennings at Newmarket (at Phantom House) as 2 or 3 year-olds. Training facilities were superior at Newmarket and Chantilly still didn’t have a grass track. The horses made the trip by boat, only travelling to France just before races.

Jockeys
Yves Saint-Martin has ridden most winners to date with nine: Reliance (1965), Nelcius (1966), Tapalqué (1968), Sassafras (1970), Acamas (1978), Top Ville (1979), Darshaan (1984), Mouktar (1985) and Natroun (1987).

Next come:
6 George Stern: Saxon (1901), Ajax (1904), Quintette (1908), Dagor (1913), Sardanapale (1914) and Ramus (1922).
4 J. Goater: Insulaire (1878), Zut (1879), Albion (1881) and Dandin (1882).
4 Charles Semblat: Belfonds (1925), Mon Talisman (1927), Pearlweed (1935) and Clairvoyant (1937).
4 Charles Elliott: Tourbillon (1931), Thor (1933), Cillas (1938) and Pharis (1939).
4 Freddy Head: Goodly (1969), Roi Lear (1973), Val de l'Orne (1975) and Youth (1976).
4 Cash Asmussen: Suave Dancer (1991), Hernando (1993), Dream Well (1998) and Montjeu (1999).
3 Edward Flatman: Lydia (1837), Meudon (1846) and Lion (1856).
3 Charles Pratt: Gontran (1865), Florentin (1866) and Bigarreau (1870).
3 Tom Lane: Stuart (1886), Ragotsky (1893) and Perth (1899).
3 Milton Henry: Mordant (1907), Sea Sick (1908) and Alcantara II (1911).
3 Guy Garner: Pot au Feu (1924), Madrigal (1926) and Hotweed (1929).
3 William Johnstone: Bey (1948), Scratch (1950) and Auriban (1952).
3 Pat Eddry: Caerleon (1983), Hours After (1988) and Sanglamore (1990).
3 Lanfranco Dettori: Polytain (1992), Shamardal (2005) and Lawman (2007).
3 Gérald Mossé : Celtic Arms (1994), Ragmar (1996) and Reliable Man (2011).    
3 Christophe Soumillon: Anaba Blue (2001), Dalakhani (2003) and Darsi (2006).
2 Tom Robinson: Frank (1836) and Vendredi (1838).
2 F. Edwards: Romulus (1839) and Morok (1847).
2 H. Neale: Gambetti (1848) and Amalfi (1851).
2 Chifney: Saint-Germain (1850) and Beauvais (1860).
2 George Fordham: Gabrielle d'Estrées (1861) and Suzerain (1868).
2 Alfred Carratt: Revigny (1872) and Jongleur (1877).
2 Tom Cannon: Kilt (1876) and Little Duck (1884).
2 Fred Archer: Beauminet (1880) and Frontin (1883).
2 Edgar Rolfe: Reluisant (1885) and Omnium II (1895).
2 Richard Hartley: Upas (1886) and Monarque (1887).
2 F. Barrett: Clover (1889) and Heaume (1890).
2 Percy Woodland: Maintenon (1906) and Or du Rhin II (1910).
2 François Hervé: Le Corrège (1928) and Strip the Willow (1932).
2 André Rabbe: Château Bouscaut (1930) and Mieuxcé (1936).
2 Jacques Doyasbère: Ardan (1944) and Coaraze (1945).
2 Roger Poincelet: Sandjar (1947) and Right Royal (1961).
2 Paul Blanc: Good Luck (1949) and Sicambre (1951).
2 Maxime Garcia: Chamant (1953) and Amber (1957).
2 Freddy Palmer: Rapace (1955) and Val de Loir (1962).
2 Thierry Thulliez: Sulamani (2002) and Blue Canari (2004).

George Stern is the youngest jockey ever to ride a Prix du Jockey Club winner. He was born on 29 September 1883 and was aged 17 years, 8 months and 5 days when he was first past the post aboard Saxon on 2 June 1901.

Eight jockeys that have won the Prix du Jockey have also won at least one of France’s two biggest jumps races at Auteuil:
- John Boon, winner in 1896 on Champaubert, also won the Grand Steeple aboard Saïda (1891) and the Grande Course de Haies 4 times: Vertige (1894), Charlatan (1895), Grandlieu (1898) and Kérym (1899).
- Tom Lane, three time winner with Stuart (1886), Ragotsky ( 1893) and Perth (1899), also won the Grande Course de Haies aboard Baudres (1884).
- Edouard Watkins, winner in 1898 on Gardefeu, won the Grande Course de Haies aboard Augure (1891).
- Percy Woodland, winner in 1906 on Maintenon and in 1910 on Or du Rhin II, also won the Grand Steeple on Dandolo (1904) and Canard (1905) as well as the Grande Course de Haies aboard Fragilité (1906).
- Charles Semblat, four time winner: Belfonds (1925), Mon Talisman (1927), Pearlweed (1935) and Clairvoyant (1937), won the Grande Course de Haies aboard Onyx II (1923).
- François Hervé, winner in 1928 aboard Le Corrège and in 1932 on Strip the Willow, also won the Grande Course de Haies aboard Rocking Chair (1925).
- Roger Poincelet, winner in 1947 on Sandjar and again in 1961 on Right Royal, won the Grande Course de Haies twice on Wild Risk (1944, 1945).
- Guy Chancelier, winner in 1959 aboard Herbager, won the Grand Steeple on Bonosnap (1957).

Stallions.
Stallions which have produced at least three winners of the Prix du Jockey Club.
4 Brûleur sire of Ksar (1921), Pot au Feu (1924), Madrigal (1926) and Hotweed (1929).
4 Pharis sire of Ardan (1944), Scratch (1950), Auriban (1952) and Philius (1956).
3 Royal Oak sire of Poetess (1841), Plover (1842) and Porthos (1852).
3 Young Emilius sire of Renonce (1843), Fitz Emilius (1845) and Amalfi (1851).
3 Sadler's Wells sire of Old Vic (1989), Dream Well (1998) and Montjeu (1999).

Horses that have won the Prix du Jockey Club and produced one or more winner of the race.
Monarque (1855) sire of Patricien (1867) and Consul (1869).
Consul (1869) sire of Kilt (1876) and Albion (1881).
Upas (1886) sire of Omnium II (1895).
Little Duck (1884) sire of Champaubert (1896).
Gardefeu (1898) sire of Quintette (1908).
Perth (1899) sire of Alcantara II (1911).
Champaubert (1896) sire of Friant II (1912).
Négofol (1909) sire of Tchad (1919).
Ksar (1921) sire of Tourbillon (1931) and Thor (1933).
Mon Talisman (1927) sire of Clairvoyant (1937).
Hotweed (1929) sire of Pearlweed (1935).
Tourbillon (1931) sire of Cillas (1938) and Coaraze (1945).
Pharis (1939) sire of Ardan (1944), Scratch (1950) and Philius (1956).
Prince Chevalier (1946) sire of Charlottesville (1960).
Val de Loir (1962) sire of Val de l'Orne (1975).
Bikala (1981) sire of Polytain (1992).
Darshaan (1984) sire of Dalakhani (2003).
Hernando (1993) sire of Holding Court (2000) and de Sulamani (2002).
Dalakhani (2003) sire of Reliable Man (2011).   
Shamardal (2005) sire of Lope de Vega (2010).

Brood mares.
Fillies that have won the Prix du Jockey Club and produced a winner of the race.
Poetess (1841) dam of Monarque (1855).

Brood mares that have produced several winners of the Prix du Jockey Club.
Tarantella dam of Gambetti (1848) and Amalfi (1851).
Currency dam of Saint-Germain (1850) and Jouvence (1853).
Perplexité dam of Chêne Royal (1892) and Palmiste (1897).
Irish Bird dam of Bikala (1981) and Assert (1982).
Soul Dream dam of Dream Well (1998) and Sulamani (2002).