The Prix Penelope 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...

 fillies

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....

. It is run at 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...

 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 named after two different horses called Penelope – a leading British broodmare foaled in 1798, and a winner of the Prix Royal foaled in 1820. It was established in 1905, and it was originally staged 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...

. During the early part of its history it was contested over 2,000 metres.

The Prix Penelope was abandoned throughout World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, with no running from 1915 to 1919. It was switched to Saint-Cloud for the 1921 edition, and it moved more permanently to that venue in 1927. Its regular home was closed during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, so the race was temporarily transferred to Longchamp (1940–42) and Maisons-Laffitte (1943–45). It was extended to 2,100 metres in 1944, and cut back to 2,000 metres in 1946. Its present spell over 2,100 metres began in 1950.

The current system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Prix Penelope was subsequently classed at Group 3 level. The race serves as an early trial for the Prix de Diane

Prix de Diane

The Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...

, and the last horse to win both events was Pawneese

Pawneese

Pawneese was an French Thoroughbred racehorse who was Europe's top racing filly in 1976. Bred in Ireland by her owner, Daniel Wildenstein, she was sired by Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Carvin and out of the mare Plencia, a daughter of Le Haar, 1963's Leading sire in France.Trained by Angel...

 in 1976.

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:...

 (5 wins):

• George Stern – Muskerry (1905), Sais (1906), Roselys (1914), Samic (1921), Zariba (1922)
• Rae Johnstone – La Futaie (1940), Sylphide (1947), Corseira (1950), Arbele (1952), Sun Cap (1954)
• 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....
  
   – Madame Est Sortie (1988), Wemyss Bight (1993), Diamond Dance (1994), Tulipa (1996), La Sylphide (1999)

----
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...

 (7 wins):

• Geoffroy Watson – Favreale (1959, dead-heat), Timandra (1960), Hermieres (1961), Hether (1970), Cigaline (1971), Rescousse (1972), Brave Ketty (1973)

----
Leading owner (10 wins):

• Marcel Boussac
  Marcel Boussac
  Marcel Boussac was a French entrepreneur best known for his ownership of the Maison Dior and one of the most successful thoroughbred race horse breeding farms in European history....
  
   – Samic (1921), Zariba (1922), Diademe (1930), Canzoni (1939), Esmeralda (1942), Corseira (1950), Arbele (1952), Adarca (1953), Janiari (1956), Demia (1977)

Winners since 1981

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
1981	Last Love	Serge Gorli	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...	Serge Lederman
1982	All Along All Along All Along was a champion Thoroughbred racemare that was foaled in France. She was one of the top fillies of the last part of the 20th century, racing mostly in Europe.-Background:...	Serge Gorli	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...	Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Leopold Wildenstein was a French art dealer and scholar, as well as a leading thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder....	2:23.4
1983	Smuggly	Alain Badel	Olivier Douieb	Edward Seltzer
1984	Pampa Bella	Alain Badel	Jean-François Daubin	Mrs A. Daubin
1985	Blue Tip	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...	Freddie Palmer	David d'Albis
1986	Termienne	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...	Jean-Paul Gallorini	Philippe Faucampre
1987	Productive	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...	J. C. Cunnington	George Ohrstrom
1988	Madame Est Sortie	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....	Yann-Marie Porzier	Gerald Levi	2:34.2
1989	Behera	Tony Cruz Anthony S. Cruz Anthony S. "Tony" Cruz is a prominent horse trainer and former Champion Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Early life:Son of J. M. da Cruz, himself a well-known jockey, Tony Cruz is of Portuguese descent...	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...	2:16.1
1990	Air de Rien	Alain Badel	Myriam Bollack-Badel	Jacques Berès	2:13.5
1991	La Monalisa	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...	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...	Edgard Zorbibe	2:15.3
1992	Trampoli	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...	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	2:18.7
1993	Wemyss Bight	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	2:20.5
1994	Diamond Dance	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...	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....	2:18.7
1995	Muncie	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...	Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Leopold Wildenstein was a French art dealer and scholar, as well as a leading thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder....	2:21.3
1996	Tulipa	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...	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:...	2:15.7
1997	Brilliance	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...	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 Skymarc Farm Chryss Goulandris Chryss Goulandris, Lady O'Reilly , also known as Christina or Chryssanthie, is one of the richest women associated with Ireland, and holds both USA and Greek citizenship, she owns a major horse breeding operation located in Ireland, France and other countries and has been Chairperson of the Irish...	2:17.9
1998	Abbatiale	Frédéric Sanchez	Dominique Sépulchre	Georges Coude	2:27.6
1999	La Sylphide	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....	Nicolas Clément	Sibylle Egloff	2:28.2
2000	Volvoreta	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 ...	Carlos Lerner	Maria-Soledad Vidal	2:21.9
2001	Baldwina	François-Xavier Bertras	François Rohaut	Bernard Cazenave	2:41.3
2002	Ombre Legere	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....	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...	Ecurie Ferdane	2:19.5
2003	Humouresque	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 ...	Sir Mark Prescott Mark Prescott Sir Mark Prescott, 3rd Baronet is a race horse trainer with over 1300 winners to his name. An English baronet he inherited his knighthood from his father and obtained his first trainers license in 1970.-Biography:...	Cheveley Park Stud	2:17.9
2004	Ask for the Moon	Ioritz Mendizabal	Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Claude Rouget is a French Thoroughbred horse trainer and former jockey.-References:...	Jean-Pierre Dubois	2:17.1
2005	Perfect Hedge	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	NP Bloodstock Ltd	2:22.1
2006	Germance	Ioritz Mendizabal	Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Claude Rouget is a French Thoroughbred horse trainer and former jockey.-References:...	Nelson Radwan	2:20.1
2007	Mrs Lindsay	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....	François Rohaut	Bettina Jenney	2:17.2
2008	Gagnoa	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....	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...	Smith / Tabor Michael Tabor Michael B. Tabor is a businessman and owner of Thoroughbred racehorses.-Thoroughbred racing career:...  / Magnier	2:23.1
2009	Celimene	Yann Lerner	Carlos Lerner	Gérard Laboureau	2:21.3
2010	Dariole	Gregory Benoist	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...	Helen Barbe	2:19.9
2011	Don't Hurry Me	Ioritz Mendizabal	Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Claude Rouget is a French Thoroughbred horse trainer and former jockey.-References:...	Jean-François Gribomont	2:17.2

Earlier winners

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