The Prix La Force is a Group 3

Conditions races

Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...

 flat

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...

 horse race

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...

 which is open to three-year-old 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...

s. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in April.

History

The event was established in 1910, and it was originally open to horses aged three or older. It was named in memory of the Duc de La Force

Duc de La Force

The title of Duc de la Force, pair de France was created in 1637 for members of the Caumont family, who were lords of the village of La Force in the Dordogne....

, Bertrand Nompar de Caumont (1840–1909), who was a member of the governing body of racing at Longchamp, the Société d'Encouragement. He was also a racehorse owner (known by his title of Marquis de Caumont), and he had a number of horses in training with Henry Jennings.

The Prix La Force was restricted to three-year-olds in 1950, and for a period it was contested over 2,000 metres. Its distance was modified several times thereafter, and for brief spells it was run over 2,200 metres (1956–58), 2,000 metres (1959–60), 2,400 metres (1961–63) and 2,600 metres (1964–65). It began a longer period over 2,000 metres in 1966.

The race was temporarily switched to Chantilly

Chantilly Racecourse

Chantilly Racecourse is a Thoroughbred turf racecourse for flat racing in Chantilly, Oise, France, about north of the centre of the city of Paris....

 in 1995, and to Deauville in 1996. It returned to Longchamp with a new distance of 2,400 metres in 1997. It was restored to 2,000 metres in 2001, and from this point it was staged for two years each at Chantilly and Saint-Cloud

Saint-Cloud Racecourse

Hippodrome de Saint-Cloud is a grass race course for Thoroughbred flat horse racing opened in 1901 at 1 rue du Camp Canadien in Saint-Cloud near Paris, France...

. The event began its present spell at Longchamp in 2005, and it was extended to 2,100 metres in 2011.

The Prix La Force serves as a trial for the 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...

, and three winners of the modern version have achieved victory in the latter race. The most recent was Holding Court in 2000.

Records

Leading 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:...

 since 1950 (7 wins):

• Freddy Head
  Freddy Head
  Freddy Head is a retired champion jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing and currently a horse trainer. Known also as "Freddie", his grandfather was a jockey as was his father Alec Head who also became a successful trainer and owner of Haras du Quesnay near Deauville...
  
   – Cadmus (1966), Mazarin (1969), Orante (1975), Fabulous Dancer (1979), Truculent (1984), Louis Le Grand (1985), Val des Bois (1989)

----
Leading 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...

 since 1950 (6 wins):

• Criquette Head-Maarek
  Criquette Head-Maarek
  Christiane "Criquette" Head is considered to be the leading female racehorse trainer in the world.Known as Criquette, she was born into the Thoroughbred horse racing business...
  
   – Fabulous Dancer (1979), Truculent (1984), Louis Le Grand (1985), The Scout (1987), Val des Bois (1989), Kotashaan (1991)

----
Leading owner since 1950 (4 wins):

• Jacques Wertheimer
  Jacques Wertheimer
  Jacques Guy Wertheimer was a prominent French businessman who inherited and ran the renowned House of Chanel perfume company...
  
   – Orante (1975), Truculent (1984), Val des Bois (1989), Kotashaan (1991)

Winners since 1978

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
1978	Dom Racine	Alain Badel	Olivier Douieb	Robert Sangster Robert Sangster Robert Edmund Sangster was a British businessman, thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder. He was British flat racing Champion Owner five times and his horses won many major races, including two Epsom Derbys, four Irish Derbys, two French Derbys, three Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes and a Melbourne...	2:17.60
1979	Fabulous Dancer	Freddy Head Freddy Head Freddy Head is a retired champion jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing and currently a horse trainer. Known also as "Freddie", his grandfather was a jockey as was his father Alec Head who also became a successful trainer and owner of Haras du Quesnay near Deauville...	Criquette Head Criquette Head-Maarek Christiane "Criquette" Head is considered to be the leading female racehorse trainer in the world.Known as Criquette, she was born into the Thoroughbred horse racing business...	Ghislaine Head Alec Head Alec Head was a prominent French horseman and breeder and the owner of Haras du Quesnay near Deauville. A descendant of the great trainers who founded the English Racing Colony in Chantilly, Oise, Head's grandfather was a jockey-turned-trainer, as was his father William Head who was a very...	2:08.20
1980	Nemr	Alfred Gibert	Mitri Saliba	Mahmoud Fustok
1981	Al Nasr	Alfred Gibert	André Fabre André Fabre André Fabre is a French thoroughbred horse racing trainer.The son of a diplomat, Fabre graduated from university with a law degree but then decided to pursue a career in thoroughbred horse racing. He began by working in the stables as a groom then as a schooling rider...	Moufid F. Dabaghi
1982	Be My Native	Bruce Raymond	Robert Armstrong	K. Hsu
1983	White Spade	Lester Piggott Lester Piggott Lester Keith Piggott is a retired English professional jockey, popularly known as "The Long Fellow". With 4,493 career wins, including nine Epsom Derby victories, he is one of the most well-known English flat racing jockeys of all time....	David Smaga	Sylvain Benillouche
1984	Truculent	Freddy Head Freddy Head Freddy Head is a retired champion jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing and currently a horse trainer. Known also as "Freddie", his grandfather was a jockey as was his father Alec Head who also became a successful trainer and owner of Haras du Quesnay near Deauville...	Criquette Head Criquette Head-Maarek Christiane "Criquette" Head is considered to be the leading female racehorse trainer in the world.Known as Criquette, she was born into the Thoroughbred horse racing business...	Jacques Wertheimer Jacques Wertheimer Jacques Guy Wertheimer was a prominent French businessman who inherited and ran the renowned House of Chanel perfume company...
1985	Louis Le Grand	Freddy Head Freddy Head Freddy Head is a retired champion jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing and currently a horse trainer. Known also as "Freddie", his grandfather was a jockey as was his father Alec Head who also became a successful trainer and owner of Haras du Quesnay near Deauville...	Criquette Head Criquette Head-Maarek Christiane "Criquette" Head is considered to be the leading female racehorse trainer in the world.Known as Criquette, she was born into the Thoroughbred horse racing business...	Khalid Abdullah
1986	Loyal Double	Gérald Mossé Gérald Mossé Gérald Mossé is a jockey in thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding professionally in April 1983 and his success during his apprenticeship under Patrick-Louis Biancone led to an offer to ride for renowned trainer François Boutin and his stable of horses belonging to Jean-Luc Lagardère...	Patrick Biancone Patrick Biancone Patrick Louis Biancone is a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He is currently based in the United States, but enjoyed success in both Europe and Hong Kong earlier in his career...	J. T. Lundy
1987	The Scout	Gary W. Moore	Criquette Head Criquette Head-Maarek Christiane "Criquette" Head is considered to be the leading female racehorse trainer in the world.Known as Criquette, she was born into the Thoroughbred horse racing business...	Khalid Abdullah
1988	Welkin	Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born Brian Keith Asmussen, in 1977 he legally changed his name to "Cash". From a Texas horse racing family, his parents, Keith and Marilyn "Sis" Asmussen, operate a ranch in Laredo, Texas...	Corine Barande-Barbe	Alfred M. Cuddy	2:07.90
1989	Val des Bois	Freddy Head Freddy Head Freddy Head is a retired champion jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing and currently a horse trainer. Known also as "Freddie", his grandfather was a jockey as was his father Alec Head who also became a successful trainer and owner of Haras du Quesnay near Deauville...	Criquette Head Criquette Head-Maarek Christiane "Criquette" Head is considered to be the leading female racehorse trainer in the world.Known as Criquette, she was born into the Thoroughbred horse racing business...	Jacques Wertheimer Jacques Wertheimer Jacques Guy Wertheimer was a prominent French businessman who inherited and ran the renowned House of Chanel perfume company...	2:14.00
1990	Sifting Gold	Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born Brian Keith Asmussen, in 1977 he legally changed his name to "Cash". From a Texas horse racing family, his parents, Keith and Marilyn "Sis" Asmussen, operate a ranch in Laredo, Texas...	André Fabre André Fabre André Fabre is a French thoroughbred horse racing trainer.The son of a diplomat, Fabre graduated from university with a law degree but then decided to pursue a career in thoroughbred horse racing. He began by working in the stables as a groom then as a schooling rider...	Roy H. Strudwick	2:03.10
1991	Kotashaan Kotashaan Kotashaan was an Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in France and earned Champion honors in the United States. He was bred and raced by brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, owners of the House of Chanel in Paris. Kotashaan was sired by Darshaan, winner of the 1984 French Derby and the Leading...	Guy Guignard	Criquette Head Criquette Head-Maarek Christiane "Criquette" Head is considered to be the leading female racehorse trainer in the world.Known as Criquette, she was born into the Thoroughbred horse racing business...	Jacques Wertheimer Jacques Wertheimer Jacques Guy Wertheimer was a prominent French businessman who inherited and ran the renowned House of Chanel perfume company...	2:06.50
1992	Break Bread	Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born Brian Keith Asmussen, in 1977 he legally changed his name to "Cash". From a Texas horse racing family, his parents, Keith and Marilyn "Sis" Asmussen, operate a ranch in Laredo, Texas...	David Smaga	Lord Weinstock Arnold Weinstock Arnold Weinstock, Baron Weinstock was an English businessman whom The Guardian newspaper called "Britain's premier post-second-world-war industrialist."...	2:06.50
1993	Sin Kiang	Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born Brian Keith Asmussen, in 1977 he legally changed his name to "Cash". From a Texas horse racing family, his parents, Keith and Marilyn "Sis" Asmussen, operate a ranch in Laredo, Texas...	Jean de Roualle	Sir James Goldsmith James Goldsmith Sir James Michael "Jimmy" Goldsmith was an Anglo-French billionaire financier and tycoon. Towards the end of his life, he became a magazine publisher and a politician. In 1994, he was elected to represent France as a Member of the European Parliament and he subsequently founded the short-lived...	2:12.90
1994	Percutant	Guy Guignard	David Smaga	Baron Thierry van Zuylen	2:10.40
1995	Tzar Rodney	Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier is a thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Peslier competes in flat racing mainly in France but travels often around the world for the big international races....	Georges Doleuze	William Trichter	2:12.50
1996	Radevore	Thierry Jarnet Thierry Jarnet Thierry Jarnet Is a Champion Thoroughbred Flat racing Jockey in France. Winning the title 4 times from 1992 to 1995. Jarnet was first apprenticed to Patrick Rago atMaisons-Laffitte and then to Yann Porzier at Chantilly, Oise....	André Fabre André Fabre André Fabre is a French thoroughbred horse racing trainer.The son of a diplomat, Fabre graduated from university with a law degree but then decided to pursue a career in thoroughbred horse racing. He began by working in the stables as a groom then as a schooling rider...	Khalid Abdullah	2:07.70
1997	Magellano	Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier is a thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Peslier competes in flat racing mainly in France but travels often around the world for the big international races....	André Fabre André Fabre André Fabre is a French thoroughbred horse racing trainer.The son of a diplomat, Fabre graduated from university with a law degree but then decided to pursue a career in thoroughbred horse racing. He began by working in the stables as a groom then as a schooling rider...	Sultan Al Kabeer	2:44.10
1998	Dream Well	Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born Brian Keith Asmussen, in 1977 he legally changed his name to "Cash". From a Texas horse racing family, his parents, Keith and Marilyn "Sis" Asmussen, operate a ranch in Laredo, Texas...	Pascal Bary Pascal Bary Pascal Bary is a French racehorse trainer.He has been training since 1981, having previously worked as an assistant to François Boutin...	Niarchos Family 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...	2:31.00
1999	Nowhere to Exit	Richard Quinn	John Dunlop John L. Dunlop John L. Dunlop is a successful race horse trainer based in Arundel, Sussex, with over 3000 winners between 1966 and 2002.He was the British flat racing Champion Trainer in 1995....	Gary Pinchen	2:47.30
2000	Holding Court	Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier is a thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Peslier competes in flat racing mainly in France but travels often around the world for the big international races....	Michael Jarvis Michael Jarvis Michael Jarvis was a Thoroughbred horse trainer in England. Based in Newmarket, Jarvis trained numerous Group One winners including three winners of the British Haydock Sprint Cup. Jarvis's horses also won important races in Ireland, Germany and Italy. He kept approximately 80 horses in...	John Good	2:34.90
2001	Art Contemporain	Thierry Jarnet Thierry Jarnet Thierry Jarnet Is a Champion Thoroughbred Flat racing Jockey in France. Winning the title 4 times from 1992 to 1995. Jarnet was first apprenticed to Patrick Rago atMaisons-Laffitte and then to Yann Porzier at Chantilly, Oise....	Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Claude Rouget is a French Thoroughbred horse trainer and former jockey.-References:...	Jean-Louis Tepper	2:11.10
2002	Diaghilev	Jamie Spencer Jamie Spencer Jamie Spencer is an Irish flat racing jockey currently riding in the UK. He has been champion jockey in both Ireland and Britain and has won four classics, two in each country. Spencer is widely regarded as one of the best, and most naturally talented, UK-based jockeys - despite not having a...	Aidan O'Brien Aidan O'Brien Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....	Tabor Michael Tabor Michael B. Tabor is a businessman and owner of Thoroughbred racehorses.-Thoroughbred racing career:...  / Magnier	2:07.80
2003	Vespone	Christophe Lemaire Christophe Lemaire Christophe Patrice Lemaire is a French-born jockey. He takes his middle name from his father, who made a name for himself in the world of French handicap racing.In 1999 he obtained the licence required for a French jockey, and began racing...	Nicolas Clément	Ecurie Mister Ess A S	2:15.40
2004	Delfos	Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier is a thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Peslier competes in flat racing mainly in France but travels often around the world for the big international races....	Carlos Laffon-Parias	Leonidas Marinopoulos	2:08.40
2005	Kendor Dine	Stéphane Pasquier Stéphane Pasquier Stéphane Pasquier in Paris, France, is a flat racing jockey. In October 2006, he won the 85th Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe....	Yves de Nicolay	Didier Kahn	2:14.20
2006	Barastraight	Ioritz Mendizabal	Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Claude Rouget is a French Thoroughbred horse trainer and former jockey.-References:...	Serge Boucheron	2:04.40
2007	Literato	Christophe Lemaire Christophe Lemaire Christophe Patrice Lemaire is a French-born jockey. He takes his middle name from his father, who made a name for himself in the world of French handicap racing.In 1999 he obtained the licence required for a French jockey, and began racing...	Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Claude Rouget is a French Thoroughbred horse trainer and former jockey.-References:...	Hervé Morin Hervé Morin Hervé Morin is a French politician, leader of the New Center party and a former French Minister of Defence.-Member of National Assembly:...	2:04.80
2008	High Rock	Christophe Lemaire Christophe Lemaire Christophe Patrice Lemaire is a French-born jockey. He takes his middle name from his father, who made a name for himself in the world of French handicap racing.In 1999 he obtained the licence required for a French jockey, and began racing...	Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Claude Rouget is a French Thoroughbred horse trainer and former jockey.-References:...	Robert Bousquet	2:12.90
2009	On Est Bien	Anthony Crastus	Elie Lellouche Elie Lellouche Elie Lellouche is a French trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses and jockeys.After having modest success as a jockey, in 1979 Lellouche obtained his horse trainer's license...	Dominique Lellouche	2:09.56
2010	Simon de Montfort	Mickael Barzalona Mickael Barzalona Mickael Barzalona is a French-born Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Career:In June 2011, Barzalona rode Pour Moi to win the 2011 Epsom Derby at Epsom, completing a remarkable come back from last place to 1st over the final straight, winning by a head...	André Fabre André Fabre André Fabre is a French thoroughbred horse racing trainer.The son of a diplomat, Fabre graduated from university with a law degree but then decided to pursue a career in thoroughbred horse racing. He began by working in the stables as a groom then as a schooling rider...	Godolphin	2:07.12
2011	Baraan	Christophe Lemaire Christophe Lemaire Christophe Patrice Lemaire is a French-born jockey. He takes his middle name from his father, who made a name for himself in the world of French handicap racing.In 1999 he obtained the licence required for a French jockey, and began racing...	Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Claude Rouget is a French Thoroughbred horse trainer and former jockey.-References:...	HH Aga Khan IV Aga Khan IV Prince Karim, Aga Khan IV, NPk, NI, KBE, CC, GCC, GCIH, GCM is the 49th and current Imam of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims. He has held this position under the title of Aga Khan since July 11, 1957, when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan...	2:15.30

The 2002 winner Diaghilev was later exported to Hong Kong and renamed River Dancer.

Earlier winners

* The 1959 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.