Prix Messidor
Encyclopedia
The Prix Messidor is a Group 3
flat
horse race
in France
open to thoroughbred
s aged three years or older. It is run at Maisons-Laffitte
over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.
. It was initially called the Prix de Messidor, a name derived from the Latin word messis, which means "harvest". The present version of the title, without the "de", was introduced in 1955.
For a period the race's venue was switched between Maisons-Laffitte (1963–65, 1968–69) and Saint-Cloud (1966–67, 1970–72). It began a longer period at Maisons-Laffitte in 1973.
The race was transferred to Deauville in 1997, and it returned to Maisons-Laffitte in 2005.
Most successful horse (2 wins):
----
Leading jockey
(6 wins):
----
Leading trainer
(9 wins):
----
Leading owner (4 wins):
Recurring sporting events established in 1949 – this race is included under its original title, Prix de Messidor.
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...
open to 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 aged three years or older. It is run at Maisons-Laffitte
Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse
The Hippodrome de Maisons-Laffitte at 1 avenue de la Pelouse in the northwestern Parisian suburb of Maisons-Laffitte in France is a turf horse racing facility and track for Thoroughbred flat racing...
over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.
History
The event was established in 1949, and it was originally held at Saint-CloudSaint-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...
. It was initially called the Prix de Messidor, a name derived from the Latin word messis, which means "harvest". The present version of the title, without the "de", was introduced in 1955.
For a period the race's venue was switched between Maisons-Laffitte (1963–65, 1968–69) and Saint-Cloud (1966–67, 1970–72). It began a longer period at Maisons-Laffitte in 1973.
The race was transferred to Deauville in 1997, and it returned to Maisons-Laffitte in 2005.
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Catilina – 1962, 1963
----
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:...
(6 wins):
- Yves Saint-MartinYves Saint-MartinYves Saint-Martin is a retired champion jockey in French Thoroughbred horse racing. He is widely considered one of the greatest riders in French racing history....
– Catilina (1962, 1963), Cripton (1964), Irish Minstrel (1969), Tassmoun (1980), Ya Zaman (1981)
----
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...
(9 wins):
- André FabreAndré FabreAndré 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...
– Mille Balles (1984), Fitzwilliam Place (1987), Mill Native (1988), Polish Precedent (1989), Acteur Francais (1991), Fanmore (1993), Neuilly (1997), Dansili (1999), Valixir (2005)
----
Leading owner (4 wins):
- HH Aga Khan IVAga Khan IVPrince 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...
– Cripton (1964), Tassmoun (1980), Valixir (2005), Alnadana (2009)
Winners since 1978
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
| 1978 | Cosmopolitan | 3 | 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.... |
François Boutin François Boutin 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... |
Robert Jolibois | |
| 1979 | American Prince | 3 | Willie Carson Willie Carson William Fisher Hunter Carson, OBE is a retired jockey in thoroughbred horse racing.-Life and career:Best known as "Miserable Willie", Carson was born in Stirling, Scotland. In 1957 he was apprenticed to Captain Gerald Armstrong at his stables at Tupgill, North Yorkshire... |
Stuart Murless | Burt Bacharach Burt Bacharach Burt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick... |
|
| 1980 | Tassmoun | 4 | Yves Saint-Martin Yves Saint-Martin Yves Saint-Martin is a retired champion jockey in French Thoroughbred horse racing. He is widely considered one of the greatest riders in French racing history.... |
François Mathet | 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... |
|
| 1981 | Ya Zaman | 4 | Yves Saint-Martin Yves Saint-Martin Yves Saint-Martin is a retired champion jockey in French Thoroughbred horse racing. He is widely considered one of the greatest riders in French racing history.... |
Mitri Saliba | Mahmoud Fustok | 1:36.20 |
| 1982 | Noalcoholic | 5 | George Duffield George Duffield George Duffield MBE is a retired English flat racing jockey.He served a seven year apprenticeship with Jack Waugh, and rode his first winner on 15 June 1967 at Great Yarmouth Racecourse on a horse called Syllable, trained by Waugh.He became stable jockey for trainer John C... |
Gavin Pritchard-Gordon | William du Pont III | |
| 1983 | Pampabird | 4 | Maurice Philipperon Maurice Philipperon Maurice Philipperon is a noted French jockey who after retirement became president of the French jockeys' association.His winning rides in Gr. 1 and 2 races included:* the Prix Ganay in 1970, 1971 and 1980 on Grandier, Caro and Arctic Tern.... |
John Cunnington, Jr. | Paul de Moussac | 1:35.20 |
| 1984 | Mille Balles | 4 | 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... |
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... |
Enzo di Nella | 1:37.30 |
| 1985 | Comrade in Arms | 3 | Alfred Gibert | Philippe Lallié | D. W. Molins | 1:36.10 |
| 1986 | Gay Minstrel | 5 | 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... |
Jacques Wertheimer Jacques Wertheimer Jacques Guy Wertheimer was a prominent French businessman who inherited and ran the renowned House of Chanel perfume company... |
1:37.00 |
| 1987 | Fitzwilliam Place | 3 | Dominique Boeuf Dominique Boeuf Dominique Boeuf is a jockey in Thoroughbred flat racing. He began his career while still a teen and won his first race on 15 September 1984. Three years later, he got his first Group One win aboard Groom Dancer in the 1987 Prix Lupin... |
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... |
Bruce McNall Bruce McNall Bruce Patrick McNall is a former Thoroughbred racehorse owner, and a sports executive who once owned the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League .McNall claimed to have made his initial fortune as a coin collector, though... |
1:34.50 |
| 1988 | Mill Native | 4 | 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... |
Paul de Moussac | 1:34.20 |
| 1989 | Polish Precedent | 3 | 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... |
Sheikh Mohammed Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:... |
1:36.30 |
| 1990 | Septieme Ciel | 3 | 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... |
John T. L. Jones, Jr. | 1:41.30 |
| 1991 | Acteur Francais | 3 | 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... |
Paul de Moussac | 1:36.08 |
| 1992 | Take Risks | 3 | Mathieu Boutin | Jean Lesbordes | David Tsui | 1:41.00 |
| 1993 | Fanmore | 5 | 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 | 1:36.30 |
| 1994 | Jeune Homme | 4 | 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... |
François Boutin François Boutin 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... |
Yoshio Asakawa | 1:39.10 |
| 1995 | Nec Plus Ultra | 4 | Thierry Gillet Thierry Gillet Thierry Gillet is a top French jockey who won the 2004 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe aboard Bago, a thoroughbred race horse he has ridden in 14 of his career starts. In April 2009, at age 39, Gillet announced his retirement from racing, citing recurring weight problems... |
Alain de Royer-Dupré Alain de Royer-Dupré Alain de Royer-Dupré is a leading French thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He grew up at the Haras de Saint Lô, a national stud farm in Normandy of which his father was Assistant Director and later Director, responsible for government-owned stallions based at farms in the local... |
Marquesa de Moratalla | 1:36.50 |
| 1996 | Grey Risk | 3 | Sylvain Guillot Sylvain Guillot Sylvain Guillot is a French jockey. He is married to the sister of fellow jockey Yannick Fouin and has one son, Thomas.For three years from about 1987, Guillot did an apprenticeship with Jean-François Daubin at Maisons-Laffitte... |
Philippe Demercastel | Ecurie Bader | 1:40.50 |
| 1997 | Neuilly | 3 | Alain Junk | 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... |
Mrs Paul de Moussac | 1:37.10 |
| 1998 | Fly to the Stars | 4 | Daragh O'Donohoe | Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
Godolphin | 1:36.60 |
| 1999 | Dansili | 3 | 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... |
Khalid Abdullah | 1:33.70 |
| 2000 | Faberger | 4 | L. Hammer-Hansen | Erika Mäder | Wiesenhof Bloodstock | 1:39.50 |
| 2001 | Panis | 3 | Thierry Thulliez Thierry Thulliez -Major wins: France* Critérium International - French Fifteen * Prix d'Astarté - - Darjina * Prix de Diane - - Carling * Prix Jacques Le Marois - - Six Perfections ... |
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... |
Ecurie J. L. Bouchard | 1:38.40 |
| 2002 | Altieri | 4 | Gabriele Bietolini | Vittorio Caruso | Scuderia Incolinx | 1:40.30 |
| 2003 | Special Kaldoun | 4 | Dominique Boeuf Dominique Boeuf Dominique Boeuf is a jockey in Thoroughbred flat racing. He began his career while still a teen and won his first race on 15 September 1984. Three years later, he got his first Group One win aboard Groom Dancer in the 1987 Prix Lupin... |
David Smaga | Ecurie Chalhoub | 1:34.60 |
| 2004 | Ryono | 5 | Tony Castanheira | Peter Lautner | Hildegard Focke | 1:39.60 |
| 2005 | Valixir | 4 | Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon is a Belgian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Career:Raised in a horse racing family, he is the son of a horse jumping jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon. Christophe Soumillon apprenticed at Chantilly Racecourse in Chantilly, France to Cédric Boutin, and won his first race in... |
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... |
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... |
1:35.70 |
| 2006 | Librettist | 4 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
Godolphin | 1:36.00 |
| 2007 | Stormy River | 4 | Thierry Thulliez Thierry Thulliez -Major wins: France* Critérium International - French Fifteen * Prix d'Astarté - - Darjina * Prix de Diane - - Carling * Prix Jacques Le Marois - - Six Perfections ... |
Nicolas Clément | Ecurie Mister Ess A S | 1:33.90 |
| 2008 | Racinger | 5 | Davy Bonilla Davy Bonilla -Major wins: France* Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp - - Marchand d'Or * Prix du Cadran - - San Sebastian * Prix d'Ispahan - - Laverock * Prix Jacques Le Marois - - Tamayuz ... |
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... |
Hamdan Al Maktoum Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Deputy Ruler of Dubai and the Minister of Finance and Industry of the United Arab Emirates . He is the second son of the late ruler, Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum .... |
1:35.70 |
| 2009 | Alnadana | 4 | Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon is a Belgian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Career:Raised in a horse racing family, he is the son of a horse jumping jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon. Christophe Soumillon apprenticed at Chantilly Racecourse in Chantilly, France to Cédric Boutin, and won his first race in... |
Alain de Royer-Dupré Alain de Royer-Dupré Alain de Royer-Dupré is a leading French thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He grew up at the Haras de Saint Lô, a national stud farm in Normandy of which his father was Assistant Director and later Director, responsible for government-owned stallions based at farms in the local... |
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... |
1:38.70 |
| 2010 | Fuisse | 4 | 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.... |
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... |
Haras du Quesnay Haras du Quesnay Haras du Quesnay, known as "Le Quesnay", is a thoroughbred horse breeding farm in France about four miles outside the city of Deauville on 3 km², established in 1907 by wealthy American sportsman William Kissam Vanderbilt. He sold the property to another American horseman, A. Kingsley Macomber,... |
1:35.30 |
| 2011 | Vagabond Shoes | 4 | Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon is a Belgian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Career:Raised in a horse racing family, he is the son of a horse jumping jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon. Christophe Soumillon apprenticed at Chantilly Racecourse in Chantilly, France to Cédric Boutin, and won his first race in... |
Yan Durepaire | Javier Martinez Salmean | 1:39.50 |
See also
Recurring sporting events established in 1949 – this race is included under its original title, Prix de Messidor.