Ourasi
Encyclopedia
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...
) is a chestnut French Trotter
French Trotter
The French Trotter is a horse breed from Normandy, France, developed in the 19th century from Norman horses with the addition of some English Thoroughbred and Norfolk Trotter blood.-History:...
by Greyhound F out of Fleurasie by Remember F (his sire is not the illustrious American trotter of the same name
Greyhound (horse)
Greyhound was a grey Standardbred gelding by Guy Abbey out of Elizabeth by Peter the Great. Born in 1932, Greyhound was the outstanding trotting horse of his day and arguably the most outstanding in the history of the sport...
).
He won the "Prix d'Amérique" four times and $2,913,314 during his career. His 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:...
victories included three consecutive Prix d'Amérique
Prix d'Amerique
Prix d'Amérique is a harness race held at the Vincennes hippodrome in Paris, France. The race takes place on the last Sunday of January every year, and has been doing so since 1920, with the exception for the years 1940-1941 when it was cancelled due to World War II...
at Vincennes
Vincennes
Vincennes is a commune in the Val-de-Marne department in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in Europe.-History:...
, the second by approximately 18 lengths.
Ourasi is considered as the Horse of the Century. He won more than 50 consecutive races.
Jean-René Gougeon (who died in July 2008) who was his trainor and driver won with Ourasi 3 times the "Prix d'Amérique". Ourasi won a fourth time the "Prix d'Amérique" with Minou Gougeon, the brother of Jean René Gougeon, who unfortunately had a stroke.
Ourasi is born in Normandy in a small stud belonging to Raoul Ostheimer and Rachel Tessier.
Raoul Ostheimer never had high hopes in him.
Racing record
As Ourasi was 2 years old he started his career. He was trained by Rachel Ostheimer and driven by Raoul Ostheimer, who was deaf.Ourasi wins three times the "Prix d'Amerique". He's now compared to "Uranie", "Roquépine" and "Bellino II".
The "March of Dimes"
In 1988, there's an American champion named "Mack Lobell"."Mack Lobell"'s nickname is " Mighty Mack". He's supposed to be a champion since he came first in a very famous race in Sueden called Elitlopest.The "March of Dimes" took place, in Philadelphia, on the 17 November 1988 between Ourasi and an American horse named "Mack Lobell". Nevertheless, it's finally an unexpected horse named "Sugarcane Hanover" who wins the race.
End of his career
At the beginning of 1989, Ourasi was 9 years old and he's as strong as ever. He's going to try to win his fourth Prix d'Amérique.The French president, François Mitterrand has come to see the race.
No one could expect Ourasi to be beaten. Nevertheless, he only comes third, behind the female "Queila Gédé" and behind "Potin d'Amour". Everyone is astonished.
1990 will be the last year Ourasi can stand for the Prix d'Amérique. He will reach 10 years, and it's the age limit to run for the Prix d'Amérique.
On the 28th January, 1990 Ourasi enters history as he breaks the Prix d'Amérique's record.
Retirement
After this, Ourasi began a stud career at Aunou-le-Faucon Stud farm.He is about to begin what is hoped will be a great stud career.
The cost of mating was 90,000 francs.It was a record at that time.
Unfortunately, Ourasi seemed to have a poor fertility.
After mating 130 female horses coming from France, Scandinavia or United States,Ourasi produced only 8 foals from his first year at stud.
specialist were called form the whole world; but nothing could be done and within 10 years Ourasi produced 38 foals. None of these foals became a champion such as Ourasi.
He definitively retired some years back.
Ourasi is living peacefully in Normandy close to Bayeux. Many of his fans come to visit him and bring for him apples and carrots (cut in slices) which he loves. Nevertheless he has to eat a few of them in spite of his greediness.
On the 7th April, 2010 many of his fans and journalists gathered to celebrate all together Ourasi's 30th birthday.
On the 7th April, 2011 Ourasi celebrated his 31st birthday.It's like having 100 years for a human being.Competition horses such as Ourasi usually live till about 25 years old. Ourasi is always in a good health. His fans are coming to see him from the whole world.
Major wins
- Elite-Rennen: 1986
- Prix d'AmériquePrix d'AmeriquePrix d'Amérique is a harness race held at the Vincennes hippodrome in Paris, France. The race takes place on the last Sunday of January every year, and has been doing so since 1920, with the exception for the years 1940-1941 when it was cancelled due to World War II...
: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990 - Prix de France: 1986, 1987, 1988
- Grand critérium de vitesse de la Côte d'Azur: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
- Prix de Paris: 1989
- Prix de l'Étoile: 1985
- Prix René Ballière: 1986, 1988
- Critérium des 5 ans: 1985
- Critérium des Jeunes: 1983
- Prix de Bretagne: 1986
- Prix du Bourbonnais: 1985, 1986, 1988
- Prix de Bourgogne: 1987, 1988, 1989
- Prix de Belgique: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
- Prix de Washington: 1988
- Prix de Croix: 1985
- Prix d'Europe: 1985, 1986, 1988
- Prix Roederer: 1985
- Prix Kalmia: 1983
- Prix Robert Auvray: 1985
- Grand Prix du Sud-Ouest: 1987
- Oslo Grand PrixOslo Grand PrixOslo Grand Prix is an annual Group One harness event that takes place at Bjerke Racetrack in Oslo, Norway. The competition was inaugurated in 1966 and is regarded as Norway's biggest trotting event. It is raced over 2,100 meters and is part of the European Grand Circuit...
: 1989
Main honourable mentions
- March of Dimes at Garden State Park : 2nd in 1988
- Prix d'AmériquePrix d'AmeriquePrix d'Amérique is a harness race held at the Vincennes hippodrome in Paris, France. The race takes place on the last Sunday of January every year, and has been doing so since 1920, with the exception for the years 1940-1941 when it was cancelled due to World War II...
: 3rd in 1989 - Prix de Bretagne: 2nd in 1985