François Boutin
Encyclopedia
François Boutin was a French
Thoroughbred
horse trainer
. The son of a farmer
, he was born in the village of Beaunay
in the northerly Seine Maritime département. He began riding horses at a young age and competed in show jumping
and cross-country equestrianism
. He began his professional racing career driving horses in harness racing
then after serving as a flat racing
apprentice, obtained his license as a trainer in 1964.
François Boutin was the trainer for the stables of Jean-Luc Lagardère
and for the Stavros Niarchos
family. During his more than thirty year career he was the leading money winner in France seven times (1976, 1978–81, 1983–84). Although victory eluded him in France's most prestigious horse race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
, Boutin won the Poule d'Essai des Poulains
on six occasions and most every other important race in the country multiple times.
Racing outside of France, Boutin's horse Sagaro was the first to win England's
Ascot Gold Cup
three years in a row. As well, Boutin-trained horses won the 1982 English 2,000 Guineas, the 1987 1,000 Guineas and the Matron Stakes
in Ireland
(Nureyev, ridden by stable jockey Philippe Paquet
, finished first in the 1980 Two Thousand Guineas, but was later disqualified). François Boutin trained April Run
for Diana M. Firestone who won in France plus had back-to-back wins in the 1981-82 Grade I
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational
at Belmont Park
.
Boutin is best remembered as the trainer of the Hall of Fame
filly
Miesque
who had back-to-back wins in the Breeders' Cup Mile
in 1987 and 1988 and for Arazi, whose breathtaking victory in the 1991 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
was followed by his shocking upset in the 1992 Kentucky Derby
.
From his first marriage he had one son, Eric, and two daughters, Patricia and Nathalie. A widower, he remarried in 1989 to Princess Lucy Young Ruspoli, the daughter of William T. Young
of Lexington, Kentucky
. Patricia is currently in the racing business.
In 1995, François Boutin died of a heart attack
in Paris
. The Prix François Boutin at Hippodrome Deauville-La Touques
race course in Deauville
is named in his honor. His grand children give back the trophy.
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...
Thoroughbred
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...
horse 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...
. The son of a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
, he was born in the village of Beaunay
Beaunay
Beaunay is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France.-People:Beaunay is the birthplace of thoroughbred racehorse trainer, François Boutin....
in the northerly Seine Maritime département. He began riding horses at a young age and competed in show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
and cross-country equestrianism
Cross-country equestrianism
Cross country equestrian jumping is an endurance test, and is one of the three phases of the sport of eventing; it may also be a competition in its own right, known as hunter trials or simply "cross-country" - these tend to be lower level, local competitions.The object of the endurance test is to...
. He began his professional racing career driving horses in harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
then after serving as a flat racing
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
apprentice, obtained his license as a trainer in 1964.
François Boutin was the trainer for the stables of Jean-Luc Lagardère
Jean-Luc Lagardère
Jean-Luc Lagardère was a major French businessman, CEO of the Lagardere Group, one of the largest French conglomerates....
and for the Stavros Niarchos
Stavros Niarchos
Stavros Spyros Niarchos was a Greek shipping tycoon, sometimes known as "The Golden Greek." In 1952, Stavros Niarchos built the first supertankers capable of transporting large quantities of oil, and subsequently earned millions of dollars as global demand for his ships increased.- Early life :He...
family. During his more than thirty year career he was the leading money winner in France seven times (1976, 1978–81, 1983–84). Although victory eluded him in France's most prestigious horse 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...
, Boutin won the Poule d'Essai des Poulains
Poule d'Essai des Poulains
The Poule d'Essai des Poulains, sometimes referred to as the French 2,000 Guineas, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts...
on six occasions and most every other important race in the country multiple times.
Racing outside of France, Boutin's horse Sagaro was the first to win England's
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Ascot Gold Cup
Ascot Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
three years in a row. As well, Boutin-trained horses won the 1982 English 2,000 Guineas, the 1987 1,000 Guineas and the Matron Stakes
Matron Stakes (Ireland)
The Matron Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
(Nureyev, ridden by stable jockey Philippe Paquet
Philippe Paquet
Philippe Paquet is a former jockey from France, who in 1974 was the winner of the Prix du Jockey Club on Caracolero, and the Gran Premio d'Italia on Ribecourt. In 1976, he also won the Irish Derby on Malacate, and the Irish Oaks on Lagunette....
, finished first in the 1980 Two Thousand Guineas, but was later disqualified). François Boutin trained April Run
April Run
April Run was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who competed internationally and who in 1982 was voted a Champion both in France and the United States....
for Diana M. Firestone who won in France plus had back-to-back wins in the 1981-82 Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational
The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational is an American Grade I stakes race on turf established in 1977 for Thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up. Currently held at Belmont Park, New York at the end of September, it is named in honor of Joe Hirsch, the award-winning racing columnist and...
at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
.
Boutin is best remembered as the trainer of the Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
Miesque
Miesque
Miesque was a champion Thoroughbred racemare, best known as the first horse to win two consecutive Breeders' Cups and racing awards in Europe and America. She was a Group one winner at two, three and four-years-old, for a total of 10 G1 wins. She produced five stakes winners.-Breeding:Miesque was...
who had back-to-back wins in the Breeders' Cup Mile
Breeders' Cup Mile
The Breeders' Cup Mile is a Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's inception in 1984...
in 1987 and 1988 and for Arazi, whose breathtaking victory in the 1991 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Breeders' Cup Juvenile
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships....
was followed by his shocking upset in the 1992 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
.
From his first marriage he had one son, Eric, and two daughters, Patricia and Nathalie. A widower, he remarried in 1989 to Princess Lucy Young Ruspoli, the daughter of William T. Young
William T. Young
William T. Young was an American businessman and major owner of thoroughbred racehorses.William T. Young attended the University of Kentucky where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Young graduated with high distinction in 1939 with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical...
of Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. Patricia is currently in the racing business.
In 1995, François Boutin died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The Prix François Boutin at Hippodrome Deauville-La Touques
Hippodrome Deauville-La Touques
Hippodrome Deauville-La Touques is a race track for thoroughbred horse racing located in Deauville in the Calvados département, in the Basse-Normandie région of France. Originally called Hippodrome de la Touques, it was named for the Touques River that separates the city of Deauville from...
race course in Deauville
Deauville
Deauville is a commune in the Calvados département in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.With its racecourse, harbour, international film festival, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino and sumptuous hotels, Deauville is regarded as the "queen of the Norman beaches" and...
is named in his honor. His grand children give back the trophy.