History of the Jockey Club: a French Derby

photo scoopdyga.com

June, Chantilly
PRIX DU JOCKEY CLUB
Group 1, 3-year-old colts and fillies, 2,100m, €1,500,000
Created in 1836

Titleholder : Look de Vega (m3, FRA by Lope de Vega and Lucelle, by High Chaparral), owned by Haras de la Morsanglière, Écurie des Charmes, Carlos&Yann Lerner, Patrick Madar, bred by Haras de la Morsanglière, l'Écurie des Charmes, trained by Carlos&Yann Lerner, ridden by Ronan Thomas.

Record time: 2'02‘’6, Ace Impact (2023)

The Prix du Jockey Club will be run for the 185th time in 2025.

The 2024 edition

Sunday 2 June 2024, Chantilly racecourse (Oise). - Until now unbeaten in two outings, with only one this year due to a setback, Look de Vega (Lope de Vega) dominated a particularly hotly contested 184th edition of the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1). The student of Joëlle Mestrallet's Haras de la Morsanglière and Lucien Urano's Écurie des Charmes, associated with trainers Carlos and Yann Lerner and Patrick Madar, was two lengths ahead of First Look (Lope de Vega), himself one length ahead of Sosie (Sea the Stars).

The winner galloped in 2nd place in the wake of the leaders, namely the favourite Fast Tracker (Churchill) and Ramadan (Le Havre), who did not last the distance of 2,100 metres on this occasion. On the other hand, Look de Vega, who was broken at the decisive moment by Ronan Thomas, accelerated sharply to put himself out of reach of the good finishes of First Look on the full track and Sosie on the line. England's Ghostwriter (Invincible Spirit) took 4th place after having difficulties coming off the line, and Mondo Man (Mondialiste) finished well in the middle of the track in 5th place.

Purchased for €160,000 out of court at the Deauville sales by his trainers, Look de Vega debuted with a victory at Fontainebleau over 1,600 metres in November, winning by seven lengths. Entered in February in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, he did not return to competition until 5 May at Paris-Longchamp over 2,000 metres in the Prix de Croissy, which he won by more than three lengths. He had therefore never been dominated and presented himself here unbeaten with 3 on the rope.

His brother by Almanzor was sold last October at Deauville to Marc Pimbonnet for €24,000. He is in training with his buyer in the colours of Bernard Giraudon and Jean-Paul Chuzeville.

The dam Lucelle (High Chaparral), bred by the late Lady O'Reilly, raced under the colours of the Haras de la Morsanglière and trained by Jean-Claude Rouget. She won as a 3yo at La Teste, Dax and Fontainebleau before finishing 5th in the Prix Panacée (L) over 2,400 metres at Toulouse. She was sold for €85,000 to Meridian International (Ghislain Bozo) at Deauville.

Look de Vega's sire Lope de Vega, also sire of the 2nd, also won the Prix du Jockey Club, as did Lawman, whose dam is also Look de Vega's 3rd dam, and whose sister Latice also won the Prix de Diane over this course.

History

Considered to be the French equivalent of the Epsom Derby, the QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club is worth €1.5 million. Traditionally run over the same distance as its English counterpart, 2,400 metres (a mile and a half), it was shortened to 2,100 metres in 2005 to distinguish it from the English Derby.

Each country and certain major breeding regions (Derby du Midi, Derby du Languedoc, Derby de l'Ouest) has its own Derby, a generic term used to describe the most coveted race of the season, generally for 3-year-olds. But conditions can vary from country to country. In the United States, Derbies are run over 2,000 metres, or even shorter in some states. In Europe and the rest of the world, they are generally run over 2,400 metres, like their British counterpart. In Hong Kong, the Derby is reserved for 4-year-olds.

The shortened Prix du Jockey Club reflects an evolution in world breeding towards faster horses, and a less brutal progression in distance between the Poule d'Essai (1,600 metres) and the Grand Prix de Paris (2,400 metres).

Considered by purists to be the most ‘classic’ of French races, it was one of the first creations of the ‘Société d'Encouragement pour l'amélioration des races de chevaux en France’. This society was founded on 11 November 1833 in response to the ‘general need to give racing greater impetus’.

The first Prix du Jockey Club was held at Chantilly on 24 April 1836 over a distance of 2,500 metres, which was maintained until 1842 and then reduced to 2,400 metres until 2004. In 2005, it was reduced to 2,100 metres. The Prix du Jockey Club was not run in 1871, from 1915 to 1918 and in 1940. It was run at Versailles in 1848, at Longchamp in 1919, 1920, 1941, 1942, 1945, 1946 and 1947, at Le Tremblay in 1943 and 1944 (over 2,300m).

In 2020, the race took place on 5 July after being delayed due to the coronavirus epidemic.

Record number of starters

28 starters in 1942 when Magister won.

Dead-Heats

The judge displayed dead-heats (ex aequo) five times at the finish of the Prix du Jockey Club. Twice the owners decided to use the race to decide the winner. Renonce (to the detriment of Prospero) won in 1843 and Lion (to the detriment of Diamant) in 1856. Three times the owners chose to share the prize, as happened in 1882 between Dandin and Saint-James, in 1886 between Upas and Sycomore and in 1908 between Sea Sick and Quintette. The creation of the Grand Prix de Paris was probably the reason for this change, as owners no longer wished to subject their horses to a new effort when they were due to compete two weeks later in the big race at Longchamp.

Lengths

The shortest interval was a nose in favour of Ragmar on Polaris Flight in 1996. Seven lengths is the largest margin between the winner and the next closest in the history of the race. This record was set in 1989 by Old Vic. Alcantara II (1911) and Holding Court (2000) follow at six lengths.

The Jockey Club

The origin of the word ‘Jockey Club’ is easy to explain. ‘Taking advantage of observations made in England over the last three hundred years, the Société d'Encouragement adopted as its model the Newmarket Jockey Club, which had been established in 1752 and governed racing across the Channel. Its code was copied and the name of Jockey Club was given to the prize that the Société created at Chantilly in 1836 in the image of the Derby (contested at Epsom since 1780), the supreme test for the selection of thoroughbreds. What's more, the Cercle (today 2, rue Rabelais in Paris) that the Société opened in 1834 would soon be commonly known as the Jockey Club.

The first Prix du Jockey Club, contested on 24 April 1836, featured five starters. The winner was Frank, bred at the Glatigny stud near Versailles. He was trained by Thomas Carter. His jockey Tom Robinson (aged twenty-six) wore the colours (orange coat, black toque) of Lord Seymour, who won the race for the next two years and a fourth time in 1841. In 1839, victory went to Romulus, a pupil of the Meudon Royal Stud, wearing the colours (scarlet cap, big blue toque) of the Duc d'Orléans, son of King Louis-Philippe. In 1840, the first Norman success came with Tontine, bred in Calvados at the Victot stud, in Eugène Aumont's colours (white coat, green cap).

Two horses bearing the same name, Monarque, won the Prix du Jockey Club. The first (presumed son of The Emperor) in 1855, for his breeder Alexandre Aumont, brother of the previous winner. The second (a son of Saxifrage) in 1887 for Paul Aumont, son of Alexandre. The first was a remarkable sire at the Dangu stud, owned by the Count of Lagrange who had acquired him in 1856. For the latter, who suffered from intermittent lameness, it was the only victory of his career.

Fillies

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 best performances by a filly were achieved in 1958 when Bella Paola was second to Tamanar by three-quarters of a length and in 2008 by Natagora, third behind Vision d'Etat and Famous Name. Two other fillies to have recently run in the Prix du Jockey Club were Paix Blanche (1992) and Moonlight Dance (1994), both in the colours of Daniel Wildenstein.

Visitors

Ten foreign victories to date.

Until 1946, the Prix du Jockey Club was reserved for horses born and bred in France. With this restriction lifted, foreign-trained competitors did not immediately turn up. It was not until 1975 that one of them, the English colt Patch, took second place. Two years later, another first place went to the Irish visitor Artaius. In 1982, Assert, owned by Robert Sangster and trained in Ireland by David O'Brien, won for the first time by a visitor. It was repeated the following year with the success of Caerleon, wearing the same coat and also from the Emerald Isle, where he was trained by the famous Vincent O'Brien, David's father. A third consecutive victory for the same team was halted by Darshaan, who in 1984 took control of Sadler's Wells, a future illustrious stallion.

It was in 1989 that the first British victory was recorded with Old Vic, trained at Newmarket by Henry Cecil. In 1990, another British victory was recorded with Sanglamore trained by Roger Charlton. The visitors now have nine victories to their name thanks to four colts from England: in 1995 Celtic Swing trained by Lady Harries at Arundel, in 2000 Holding Court prepared at Newmarket by Michael Jarvis, in 2005 Shamardal, trained by Saeed Bin Suroor also at Newmarket, and in 2014 The Grey Gatsby brought another victory to Great Britain, more precisely to Yorkshire. Mishriff, the winner of the 2020 edition, comes from Newmarket, from John Gosden's stable. Finally, titleholder St. Mark's Basilica was trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien.

Jockey Club, Derby and Arc de Triomphe

The dates of the Prix du Jockey Club and the Derby at Epsom are too close together to allow a double entry. However, due to the calendar, there were a few exceptions. In 1878, Insulaire, winner at Chantilly on the Sunday, travelled to Epsom on the Wednesday where he finished second out of twenty-two starters. And in 1914, winner at Epsom on 27 May, Durbar returned to Chantilly on 14 June but was only placed fourth.

On the other hand, with an interval of three to four weeks, the winner of the Prix du Jockey Club can try his luck in Ireland in the Irish Derby at the Curragh. Four horses have achieved the double. They are Assert (1982), Old Vic (1989), Dream Well (1998) and Montjeu (1999). The last horse to attempt the double was Dalakhani in 2003, but he failed as he was beaten at the Curragh by half a length by his stablemate Alamshar.

Ten winners of the Prix du Jockey Club went on to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (only created 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), Dalakhani (2003) and Ace Impact (2023).

And six horses placed second in the Prix du Jockey Club went on to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: Biribi (1926), Kantar (1928), Tantième (1950, 1951), Bon Mot (1966), Trempolino (1987) and Subotica (1992).

Stallions

Stallions having produced at least three Prix du Jockey Club winners:

    Brûleur (4) sired by Ksar (1921), Pot au Feu (1924), Madrigal (1926) and Hotweed (1929).
    Pharis (4) sired by Ardan (1944), Scratch (1950), Auriban (1952) and Philius (1956).
    Royal Oak (3) sired Poetess (1841), Plover (1842) and Porthos (1852).
    Young Emilius (3) sire of Renonce (1843), Fitz Emilius (1845) and Amalfi (1851).
    Sadler's Wells (3) sire of Old Vic (1989), Dream Well (1998) and Montjeu (1999).

Horses to have won the Prix du Jockey Club and sired one or more winners of the same 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), father 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 Sulamani (2002).
    Dalakhani (2003), sire of Reliable Man (2011).
    Shamardal (2005), sire of Lope de Vega (2010).
    Lope de Vega (2010), sire of Look de Vega (2024).

Broodmares

Filly who won the Prix du Jockey Club and produced a winner in the same race: Poetess (1841), dam of Monarque (1855).

Filly having produced several Prix du Jockey Club winners:

    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).

Owners

    Marcel Boussac (12 wins) : 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).
    Frédéric de Lagrange (8 wins) : Ventre Saint Gris (1858), Black Prince (1859), Gabrielle d'Estrées (1861), Consul (1869), Insulaire (1878), Zut (1879), Albion (1881) and Dandin (1882).
    Aga Khan IV (8 wins) : Charlottesville (1960), Top Ville (1979), Darshaan (1984), Mouktar (1985), Natroun (1987), Dalakhani (2003), Darsi (2006), Vadeni (2022).
    Auguste Lupin (6 wins) : Gambetti (1848), Saint-Germain (1850), Amalfi (1851), Jouvence (1853), Potocki (1857) and Salvator (1875).

Coaches

    Tom Jennings (10 wins): 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 under Alexandre Aumont, the other eight under Frédéric de Lagrange.
    Thomas Carter (6 wins) : Frank (1836), Lydia (1837), Vendredi (1838), Meudon (1846), Experience (1849), Celebrity (1854).
    François Mathet (6 wins): Reliance (1965), Tapalqué (1968), Sassafras (1970), Rheffic (1971), Crystal Palace (1977), Top Ville (1979).
    Charles Semblat (6 wins) : Ardan (1944), Coaraze (1945), Sandjar (1947), Scratch (1950), Auriban (1952), Le Petit Prince (1954).
    Alain de Royer-Dupré (6 wins): Darshaan (1984), Mouktar (1985), Natroun (1987), Dalakhani (2003), Darsi (2006), Reliable Man (2011).
    Pascal Bary (6 wins): Celtic Arms (1994), Ragmar (1996), Dream Well (1998), Sulamani (2002), Blue Canari (2004), Study of Man (2018).
    Jean-Claude Rouget (6 wins): Le Havre (2009), Almanzor (2016), Brametot (2017), Sottsass (2019), Vadeni (2022), Ace Impact (2023).

Only two women have trained a Prix du Jockey Club winner: Christiane Head (Bering in 1986) and Lady Herries (Celtic Swing in 1995).
Jockeys

    Yves Saint-Martin (9 wins): Reliance (1965), Nelcius (1966), Tapalqué (1968), Sassafras (1970), Acamas (1978), Top Ville (1979), Darshaan (1984), Mouktar (1985) and Natroun (1987).
    George Stern (6 wins): Saxon (1901), Ajax (1904), Quintette (1908), Dagor (1913), Sardanapale (1914) and Ramus (1922).
    J. Goater (4 wins): Insulaire (1878), Zut (1879), Albion (1881) and Dandin (1882).
    Charles Semblat (4 wins): Belfonds (1925), Mon Talisman (1927), Pearlweed (1935) and Clairvoyant (1937).
    Charles Elliott (4 wins): Tourbillon (1931), Thor (1933), Cillas (1938) and Pharis (1939).
    Freddy Head (4 wins): Goodly (1969), Roi Lear (1973), Val de l'Orne (1975) and Youth (1976).
    Cash Asmussen (4 wins): Suave Dancer (1991), Hernando (1993), Dream Well (1998) and Montjeu (1999).
    Christophe Soumillon (4 wins): Anaba Blue (2001), Dalakhani (2003), Darsi (2006), Vadeni (2022).
    Edward Flatman (3 wins): Lydia (1837), Meudon (1846) and Lion (1856).
    Charles Pratt (3 wins): Gontran (1865), Florentin (1866) and Bigarreau (1870).
    Tom Lane (3 wins): Stuart (1886), Ragotsky (1893) and Perth (1899).
    Milton Henry (3 wins): Mordant (1907), Sea Sick (1908) and Alcantara II (1911).
    Guy Garner (3 wins): Pot au Feu (1924), Madrigal (1926) and Hotweed (1929).
    William Johnstone (3 wins): Bey (1948), Scratch (1950) and Auriban (1952).
    Pat Eddery (3 wins): Caerleon (1983), Hours After (1988) and Sanglamore (1990).
    Lanfranco Dettori (3 wins): Polytain (1992), Shamardal (2005), Lawman (2007).
    Gérald Mossé (3 wins): Celtic Arms (1994), Ragmar (1996), Reliable Man (2011).
    Ioritz Mendizabal (3 wins): State Vision (2008), Mishriff (2020), St. Mark's Basilica (2021).

And in particular...

    Olivier Peslier (2 wins): Peintre Célèbre (1997), Intello (2013).
    Thierry Thulliez (2 wins): Sulamani (2002), Blue Canari (2004).
    Cristian Demuro (3 wins) : Brametot (2017), Sottsass (2019), Ace Impact (2023).

The youngest jockey to have won the Prix du Jockey Club is George Stern. Born on 29 September 1883, he was seventeen years, eight months and five days old when he rode Saxon to victory on 2 June 1901. He was followed by Serge Gorli, born on 1 January 1963, who was eighteen years, five months and seven days old when he rode Bikala to victory on 7 June 1981.

Source: France Galop