Prix Gladiateur

The Prix Gladiateur is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 3,100 metres (about 1 mile and 7½ furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

History

The event is considered to be France's oldest surviving horse race. It was established in 1807, and was originally called the Grand Prix. The first version was contested over two circuits of the Champ de Mars, a distance of 4,000 metres.

The race was renamed the Grand Prix Royal in 1834. It was held at Chantilly in 1846. It became known as the Grand Prix National in 1848, and the Grand Prix Impérial in 1853.

The Grand Prix Impérial was transferred to Longchamp and increased to 6,000 metres in 1857. It was retitled the Grand Prix de l'Empereur and extended to 6,200 metres in 1861. This distance, about 3 miles and 7 furlongs, was maintained for almost a century.

The race was renamed in honour of Gladiateur, a notable previous winner, in 1869. The newly titled Prix Gladiateur was cancelled because of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.

The race took place at Chantilly in 1906. It was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1914 to 1918. It was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. It was staged at Le Tremblay in 1943 and 1944.

The Prix Gladiateur was cut to 4,800 metres in 1955. It was shortened to 4,000 metres in 1977, and to 3,100 metres in 1991.

Records

Most successful horse (3 wins):

* Called To The Bar – ''2018, 2019, 2020''

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Leading jockey (5 wins):
* Spreoty – ''Hervine (1852), Echelle (1853), Royal Quand Meme (1854), Monarque (1857), Mon Etoile (1862)''
* Christophe Soumillon – ''Reefscape (2005), Domeside (2013), Walzertakt (2015), Vazirabad (2016, 2017)''
* Maxime Guyon - ''Bathyrhon (2014), Called To The Bar (2018, 2019, 2020), Big Call (2022)''
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Leading trainer (13 wins):
* Tom Jennings – ''Hervine (1852), Echelle (1853), Royal Quand Meme (1854), Monarque (1857), Lysiscote (1860), Surprise (1861), Gladiateur (1866), Auguste (1868), Trocadero (1869), Nougat (1876), Verneuil (1878), Clementine (1879), Courtois (1880)''
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Leading owner (10 wins):
* Frédéric de Lagrange – ''Monarque (1857), Lysiscote (1860), Surprise (1861), Gladiateur (1866), Auguste (1868), Trocadero (1869), Nougat (1876), Verneuil (1878), Clementine (1879), Courtois (1880)''

Winners since 1981

Fly With Me finished first in 2015 but was disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance.


The 2016 & 2017 runnings took place at Chantilly while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment.

Earlier winners

* 1834: Felix
* 1835: Miss Annette
* 1836: Volante
* 1837: Franck
* 1838: Corisandre
* 1839: Eylau
* 1840: Nautilus
* 1841: Giges
* 1842: Minuit
* 1843: Jenny
* 1844: Drummer
* 1845: Cavatine
* 1846: Fitz Emilius
* 1847: Predestinee
* 1848: Morok
* 1849: Dulcamara
* 1850: Serenade
* 1851: Messine
* 1852: Hervine
* 1853: Echelle
* 1854: Royal Quand Meme
* 1855: Festival
* 1856: Ronzi
* 1857: Monarque
* 1858: Miss Cath
* 1859: Tippler
* 1860: Lysiscote
* 1861: Surprise
* 1862: Mon Etoile
* 1863: Souvenir
* 1864: Noelie
* 1865: Ninon de Lenclos
* 1866: Gladiateur
* 1867: Vertugadin
* 1868: Auguste
* 1869: Trocadero
* 1870: ''no race''
* 1871: Don Carlos
* 1872: Dutch Skater
* 1873: Barbillon
* 1874: Christiania
* 1875: Figaro
* 1876: Nougat
* 1877: Mondaine
* 1878: Verneuil
* 1879: Clementine
* 1880: Courtois
* 1881: Pourquoi
* 1882: Bariolet
* 1883: Mademoiselle de Senlis
* 1884: Satory
* 1885: Lavaret
* 1886: Escarboucle
* 1887: Upas
* 1888: Tenebreuse
* 1889: Tenebreuse
* 1890: Carmaux
* 1891: Mirabeau
* 1892: Primrose
* 1893: Aquarium
* 1894: Aquarium
* 1895: La Licorne
* 1896: Omnium II
* 1897: Elf
* 1898: Elf
* 1899: Patriarche
* 1900: Sospiro
* 1901: Mademoiselle de Longchamps
* 1902: Amer Picon
* 1903: Amer Picon
* 1904: Vieux Paris
* 1905: Maximum
* 1906: Clyde
* 1907: Punta Gorda
* 1908: Rabat Joie
* 1909: Sea Sick
* 1910: Pierre Benite
* 1911: Basse Pointe
* 1912: Chambre de l'Edit
* 1913: Philippe
* 1914–18: ''no race''
* 1919: Passebreul
* 1920: Bachlyk
* 1921: Odol
* 1922: Flechois
* 1923: Flechois
* 1924: Trevise
* 1925: Cerfeuil
* 1926: Tomy
* 1927: Soun
* 1928: Bouda
* 1929: Nopal
* 1930: Monsieur le Marechal
* 1931: Filidor
* 1932: Reverende
* 1933: Voila
* 1934: Prince Oli
* 1935: Dejazcomba
* 1936: Bokbul
* 1937: Trevisani
* 1938: Pretender
* 1939–40: ''no race''
* 1941: Rosette
* 1942: Ughald
* 1943: L'Aligote
* 1944: Marsyas
* 1945: Woodcutter
* 1946: Albor
* 1947: Blue Butterfly
* 1948: Monticola
* 1949: Blue Butterfly
* 1950: Vatelys
* 1951: Deux Points
* 1952: Ysard
* 1953: Xaret
* 1954: Ring Etoile
* 1955: Fil Rouge
* 1956: Savoyard
* 1957: Romantisme
* 1958: Ranchiquito
* 1959: Epsom Victory
* 1960: Epsom Victory
* 1961: Taine
* 1962: Hunch
* 1963: Kistinie
* 1964: Greyhound
* 1965: Fantomas
* 1966: Pompon Rouge
* 1967: Alciglide
* 1968: Samos
* 1969: Clairon
* 1970: Faux Monnayeur
* 1971: Barado
* 1972: Hickleton
* 1973: Lassalle
* 1974: Forceful
* 1975: Campo Moro
* 1976: Knight Templar
* 1977: John Cherry
* 1978: Biliboy
* 1979: Marson
* 1980: Anifa

See also

* List of French flat horse races
* Recurring sporting events established in 1807 ''– this race is included under its original title, Grand Prix.''

References

* France Galop / Racing Post:
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france-galop.com
– ''A Brief History: Prix Gladiateur.''

galopp-sieger.de
– ''Prix Gladiateur (ex Grand Prix de l'Empereur).''

horseracingintfed.com
– ''International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Gladiateur (2016).''

pedigreequery.com
– ''Prix Gladiateur – Longchamp.''
{{refend

Open long distance horse races
Longchamp Racecourse
Horse races in France
1807 establishments in France