Grand Prix de Vichy
| Group 3 race | |
 | |
| Location | Vichy Racecourse Vichy, France |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1875 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat race |
| Website | France-Galop.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2,000 metres (1¼ miles) |
| Track | Turf, right-handed |
| Qualification | Three-years-old and up |
| Weight | 53½ kg (3yo); 58 kg (4yo+) Allowances 1½ kg for fillies and mares Penalties 4 kg for Group 1 winners * 3 kg for Group 2 winners * 2 kg for Group 3 winners * * since January 1 |
| Purse | €80,000 (2008) Distribution 1st: 50%, 2nd: 20%, 3rd: 15% 4th: 10%, 5th: 5% |
The Grand Prix de Vichy-Auvergne is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds which are three-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,000 metres (approximately 1¼ miles) at Vichy Racecourse and takes place annually, presently in July.
It was first run on August 26 1875 with the title Grand Prix de Vichy. From its launch until 1899 it was a handicap race with prize money initially set at 6,000 francs. For several years thereafter it was run as the Grand Prix International du Cercle de Vichy, offering a greatly increased prize of 100,000 francs. The race was abandoned in 1907, but returned the following year with a new title, the Grand Prix de la Ville de Vichy.
In 1958 the title of the race was appended with "et de la Société de Sport de France". This organisation owned the racecourse during this period and later became part of the present governing body of French racing, France Galop. From 1965 the race was known simply by its original name, the Grand Prix de Vichy, and for a single running in 1970 it was once again run as a handicap. The prize money was by now less generous than it had been prior to World War II, but the race still attracted good quality horses. As a result, it was granted Group 3 status in 1976. The name of the region in which Vichy is located, "Auvergne", was added to the title in 2005.
Originally contested over 2,400 metres, the race's distance has been subsequently modified many times. The most prolonged spells have been at 2,600 metres (1900–41, 1943–64, 1966–75), 2,400 metres (1976–91) and 2,000 metres (since 1992).
Records
Leading jockey (4 wins):
- Jean Massard – Romantisme (1953), Bewitched (1955), Lord Jack (1981), Nature (1984)
- Guy Guignard – Sophora (1973), Lauville (1985), Marildo (1993, 1995)
Leading trainer (4 wins):
- James Cunnington – Marichette (1881), Dacis (1891), Machiavel (1898), Kerlaz (1900)
- Robert Denman – Gouvernant (1904), Marsa (1910), Checkmate (1923), Alguazil (1926, dead-heat)
- Antoine Lassard – Yakoba (1934), Ortolan (1935), Champittet (1941), Clodoche (1943)
Leading owner (7 wins):
- Marcel Boussac – Grillemont (1924, dead-heat), Alguazil (1926, dead-heat), Thaouka (1932), Dadji (1937), Coaraze (1947), Amphis (1952), Shaker (1954)
Winners since 1979
Earlier winners
- 1875 - Damoiseau
- 1876 - Mondaine
- 1877 -
- 1878 - Le Marquis
- 1879 - Gift
- 1880 -
- 1881 - Marichette
- 1882–85 - no race
- 1886 - Prytanee
- 1887 - Ary
- 1888 - Bocage
- 1889 - Etretat
- 1890 - Belle Dame
- 1891 - Dacis
- 1892 - Le Cordouan
- 1893 -
- 1894 - Lanterne Magique
- 1895 - Feuillet
- 1896 -
- 1897 -
- 1898 - Machiavel
- 1899 -
- 1900 - Kerlaz
- 1901 - Lady Killer
- 1902 -
- 1903 - Alpha
- 1904 - Gouvernant
- 1905 - Rataplan
- 1906 -
- 1907 - no race
- 1908 - Roi Herode
- 1909 -
- 1910 - Marsa
- 1911 - Dor
- 1912 - Predicateur
- 1913 - Tripolette
- 1914–19 - no race
- 1920 -
- 1921 -
- 1922 - Harpocrate
- 1923 - Checkmate
- 1924 - Grillemont / Seclin *
- 1925 -
- 1926 - Alguazil / Javelot *
- 1927 - Juveilin
- 1928 - Rovigo
- 1929 - Frolic *
- 1930 - Guernanville
- 1931 - Hetre Pourpre
- 1932 - Thaouka
- 1933 - Casterari
- 1934 - Yakoba
- 1935 - Ortolan
- 1936 - Vatellor
- 1937 - Dadji
- 1938 - Eclair au Chocolat
- 1939 - Transtevere
- 1940 - no race
- 1941 - Champittet
- 1942 - Tambourin
- 1943 - Clodoche
- 1944 - no race
- 1945 - Achille
- 1946 -
- 1947 - Coaraze
- 1948 - Pegase
- 1949 - Astragram
- 1950 - Monticola
- 1951 - Ombrette
- 1952 - Amphis
- 1953 - Romantisme
- 1954 - Shaker
- 1955 - Bewitched
- 1956 - Cambremer
- 1957 - Jockero
- 1958 - Makalu
- 1959 - Wolfram
- 1960 - Shikani
- 1961 - Shikani
- 1962 - Karol
- 1963 - Signora
- 1964 - Amertume
- 1965 - Carvin
- 1966 - Cantilius
- 1967 -
- 1968 -
- 1969 - Manitoba
- 1970 -
- 1971 -
- 1972 -
- 1973 - Sophora
- 1974 - Authi
- 1975 - Diagramatic
- 1976 - Diagramatic
- 1977 - Guadanini
- 1978 - Tempus Fugit
* The 1924 and 1926 races were dead-heats and have joint winners.
* Le Chatelet finished first in 1929 but was disqualified for obstruction.
References
See also
- List of French flat horse races
- Recurring events established in 1875 – this race is included under its original title, Grand Prix de Vichy.