Prix du Gros Chêne

The Prix du Gros Chêne is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 1,000 metres (about 5 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late May or early June.

History

The event was established in 1857, and it was originally contested over 800 metres. Its title refers to a large oak tree which stood in the grounds of the racecourse – the English translation of Gros Chêne is "Great Oak". The race was abandoned because of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. It was extended to 1,000 metres in 1881.

The Prix du Gros Chêne was cancelled throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1918. The first two post-war editions were run over 1,100 metres at Longchamp.

The race was abandoned once during World War II, in 1940. It was staged at Maisons-Laffitte from 1941 to 1943, and at Auteuil with a distance of 900 metres in 1944. It returned to Maisons-Laffitte in 1945, and it was transferred to Longchamp in 1946. Five successive runnings during the wartime period were won by one horse, Fine Art. The race returned to its original venue, Chantilly, in 1957.

The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and for a period the Prix du Gros Chêne held Group 3 status. It was promoted to Group 2 level in 1988. The race is now held on the same day as the Prix du Jockey Club.

Records

Most successful horse (5 wins):

• Fine Art – 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946

Leading jockey (9 wins):

• Roger Poincelet – Fine Art (1944, 1945, 1946), Kalpack (1954), Palariva (1956), Jini (1957), Sly Pola (1960), High Bulk (1961), L'Epinay (1963)

Leading trainer (7 wins):

• François Mathet – Joshua (1953), Edellic (1958, 1959), Texanita (1964), Farhana (1967), Rockcress (1969), Adraan (1980)
• Robert Collet - Kind Music (1982), Last Tycoon (1986), Sainte Marine (1988, 1989), Beauty Is Truth (2007), Wizz Kid (2011, 2012)

Leading owner (5 wins):

• Claude-Joachim Lefèvre – Alaric (1872), Regane (1873), Octave (1883), Feuillage (1886), Frapotel (1888)
• Pierre Wertheimer – Epinard (1923), La Fayette (1929), Quartz (1933), Sanguine (1951), Kalpack (1954)
• Louis de La Rochette – Fine Art (1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946)

Winners since 1980

^a The 1996 running took place at Deauville.

Earlier winners

* The 1968 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.

See also

• List of French flat horse races

References

• France Galop / Racing Post:
  • "1979". , "1980". , "1981". , "1982". , "1983". , "1984". , "1985". , "1986". , "1987". , "1988". 
  • "1989". , "1990". , "1991". , "1992". , "1993". , "1994". , "1995". , "1996". , "1997". , "1998". 
  • "1999". , "2000". , "2001". , "2002". , "2003". , "2004". , "2005". , "2006". , "2007". , "2008". 
  • "2009". , "2010". , "2011". , "2012". , "2013". , "2014". , "2015". , "2016". 

• france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix du Gros Chêne.
• galopp-sieger.de – Prix du Gros Chêne.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix du Gros-Chêne (2016).
• pedigreequery.com – Prix du Gros Chêne – Chantilly.