Evremond de Saint-Alary
Encyclopedia
Count Evremond de Saint-Alary (1868–1941) was a leading owner and breeder of Thoroughbred
racehorses
in France
. An Englishman
who inherited considerable wealth and a title
, as a young man in his twenties Saint-Alary became involved in horse racing and in the early 1890s acquired Haras de Saint Pair du Mont
, a horse breeding
farm at Le Cadran near Cambremer
in Calvados
, Normandy
.
A passionate man, Evremond de Saint-Alary once challenged a member of the press
to a duel
after he had written an article
criticizing one of his horses.
In 1893 Saint-Alary purchased a yearling at the Ventes de Deauville
auction he named Omnium
. One of the best horses he would ever own, under jockey
/trainer
Edgar Rolfe, Omnium won seventeen races in three years of competition including numerous important events such as the 1895 Prix du Jockey Club
, the French equivalent of England's Epsom Derby
. Omnium was retired to stud duty at Haras de Saint Pair du Mont and despite dying only a few years later, his successful progeny made him the leading sire
in France in 1902.
In 1920, Evremond de Saint-Alary scored the first of his two wins in France's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
. Comrade
, a colt
trained by Peter Gilpin who had cost Saint-Alary only twenty-five guineas
, won the inaugural running of the Arc and also won the Grand Prix de Paris
. Saint-Alary raced in England as well where in the 1930s his horses trained by Frank Carter won two of the Classic Races and in France his second Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1935.
Evremond de Saint-Alary remained active in racing right up to the time of his death in 1941. In his honor, the Group One
Prix Saint-Alary
at Longchamp Racecourse
was named for him.
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...
racehorses
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...
. An Englishman
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
who inherited considerable wealth and a title
Title
A title is a prefix or suffix added to someone's name to signify either veneration, an official position or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may even be inserted between a first and last name...
, as a young man in his twenties Saint-Alary became involved in horse racing and in the early 1890s acquired Haras de Saint Pair du Mont
Haras de Saint Pair du Mont
Haras de Saint Pair du Mont is a Thoroughbred horse breeding farm at Le Cadran near Cambremer in Calvados, Normandy. The business was founded circa the 1880s by renowned horseman, Leonce Delatre whose estate sold the property to Evremond de Saint-Alary in the early 1890s. On his death in 1941,...
, a horse breeding
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
farm at Le Cadran near Cambremer
Cambremer
Cambremer is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:...
in Calvados
Calvados
The French department of Calvados is part of the region of Basse-Normandie in Normandy. It takes its name from a cluster of rocks off the English Channel coast...
, Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
.
A passionate man, Evremond de Saint-Alary once challenged a member of the press
Printing
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
to a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
after he had written an article
Article (publishing)
An article is a written work published in a print or electronic medium. It may be for the purpose of propagating the news, research results, academic analysis or debate.-News articles:...
criticizing one of his horses.
In 1893 Saint-Alary purchased a yearling at the Ventes de Deauville
Arqana
Arqana is a European auction house that operates horse auctions including the Ventes de Deauville, one of the world's largest auctions for thoroughbred yearlings held in August of each year in Deauville, France....
auction he named Omnium
Omnium II
Omnium II was a Thoroughbred racehorse in France. He was purchased from the Countess Paul Le Marois at the Deauville Yearling sale by Count Evremond de Saint-Alary...
. One of the best horses he would ever own, under 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:...
/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...
Edgar Rolfe, Omnium won seventeen races in three years of competition including numerous important events such as the 1895 Prix du Jockey Club
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
, the French equivalent of England's Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
. Omnium was retired to stud duty at Haras de Saint Pair du Mont and despite dying only a few years later, his successful progeny made him the leading sire
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
in France in 1902.
In 1920, Evremond de Saint-Alary scored the first of his two wins in France's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 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 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
. Comrade
Comrade (horse)
Comrade was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who won the first-ever running of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1920.Owned by the Evremond de Saint-Alary whose stable raced in England and France, Comrade was purchased for only 26 guineas...
, a colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
trained by Peter Gilpin who had cost Saint-Alary only twenty-five guineas
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
, won the inaugural running of the Arc and also won the Grand Prix de Paris
Grand Prix de Paris
The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
. Saint-Alary raced in England as well where in the 1930s his horses trained by Frank Carter won two of the Classic Races and in France his second Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1935.
Evremond de Saint-Alary remained active in racing right up to the time of his death in 1941. In his honor, the Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
Prix Saint-Alary
Prix Saint-Alary
The Prix Saint-Alary is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
at Longchamp Racecourse
Hippodrome de Longchamp
The Longchamp Racecourse is a 57 hectare horse-racing facility located on the Route des Tribunes in the Bois de Boulogne at Paris, France. Built on the banks of the Seine River, it is used for flat racing and is noted for its variety of interlaced tracks and a famous hill that provides a real...
was named for him.
Selected races won
- Prix de la ForêtPrix de la ForêtThe Prix de la Forêt 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 1,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.-History:The race was established in 1858,...
- Omnium IIOmnium IIOmnium II was a Thoroughbred racehorse in France. He was purchased from the Countess Paul Le Marois at the Deauville Yearling sale by Count Evremond de Saint-Alary...
(1894), Casternau (1896), Royal Mint (1897) - Prix du Jockey ClubPrix du Jockey ClubThe Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
- Omnium II (1895) - Prix du CadranPrix du CadranThe Prix du Cadran is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 4,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October....
- Omnium II (1896) - Prix BoïardPrix ExburyThe Prix Exbury is a Group 3 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in March.-History:...
- Omnium II (1896), Castelnau (1897) - Prix du Prince d'OrangePrix du Prince d'OrangeThe Prix du Prince d'Orange is a Group 3 flat horse race in France which is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:...
- Omnium II (1895, 1896), Finglas (1928) - Prix du Conseil MunicipalPrix du Conseil de ParisThe Prix du Conseil de Paris is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October....
- Omnium II (1895 & 1896), Basse Pointe (1911), Porphyros (1940) - Prix GladiateurPrix GladiateurThe Prix Gladiateur is a Group 3 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 3,100 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
- Omnium II (1896), Basse Pointe (1911) - Prix de GuichePrix de GuicheThe Prix de Guiche is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 1,800 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
- Pas de Danse (1896) et Castelnau (1897) - Poule d'Essai des PoulichesPoule d'Essai des PoulichesThe Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, sometimes referred to as the French 1,000 Guineas, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
- Kizil Kourgan (1902) - Prix de l'Arc de TriomphePrix de l'Arc de TriompheThe Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 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 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
- ComradeComrade (horse)Comrade was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who won the first-ever running of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1920.Owned by the Evremond de Saint-Alary whose stable raced in England and France, Comrade was purchased for only 26 guineas...
(1920), Samos (1935) - Grand Prix de ParisGrand Prix de ParisThe Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
- Kizil Kourgan (1902), Brûleur (1913), Comrade (1920) - 1,000 Guineas - Kandy (1932)
- 2,000 Guineas - Le Ksar (1937)