The Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks, is a
Group 1 Group 1 may refer to:
* Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal
* Group 1 (racing), a historic (until 1981) classification for Touring car racing, applied to standard touring cars. Comparable to modern FIA Group N
* Group On ...
flat horse race
Horse racing is an equestrianism, equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, ...
in France open to three-year-old
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. Thoroughbreds are ...
fillies. It is run at
Chantilly over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.
It is France's equivalent of
The Oaks, a famous race in England.
History
The event is named after the mythological goddess
Diana (in French, "Diane"). It was established in 1843, and was originally restricted to horses born and bred in France. Its distance was set at 2,100 metres, around 300 metres shorter than the English version. It was switched to
Versailles
The Palace of Versailles ( ; french: Château de Versailles ) is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the French Republic and since 1995 has been managed, ...
during the
Revolution
In political science, a revolution (Latin: ''revolutio'', "a turn around") is a fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organization which occurs when the population revolts against the government, typically due ...
of 1848, and was cancelled due to the
Franco-Prussian War in 1871.
The Prix de Diane was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1918. The first two post-war editions were held at
Longchamp, and it returned to Chantilly in 1921. It took place at Longchamp again in 1936.
The race was cancelled once during World War II, in 1940. It was staged at Longchamp in 1941 and 1942, and at
Le Tremblay over 2,150 metres in 1943 and 1944. It returned to Longchamp for the following three years, and on the second occasion it was opened to foreign participants. The first foreign-trained horse to win was Sweet Mimosa in 1970.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Prix de Diane was classed at the highest level, Group 1. A strike by stable lads caused the 1975 running to be abandoned. That year's favourite had been
Ivanjica.
The event was sponsored by
Revlon from 1977 to 1982, and by
Hermès
Hermès International S.A., or simply Hermès ( , ), is a French luxury design house established in 1837. It specializes in leather goods, lifestyle accessories, home furnishings, perfumery, jewelry, watches and ready-to-wear. Its logo, sinc ...
from 1983 to 2007. It was not sponsored from 2008 to 2010, and has been backed by
Longines
Compagnie des Montres Longines, Francillon S.A., or simply Longines (), is a Swiss luxury watchmaker based in Saint-Imier, Switzerland. Founded by Auguste Agassiz in 1832, the company has been a subsidiary of the Swiss Swatch Group and its predec ...
since 2011.
Two fillies have won both the Prix de Diane and the English Oaks – Fille de l'Air in 1864 and
Pawneese in 1976. Six Prix de Diane winners have subsequently won the
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France, over a distance ...
, most recently
Treve in 2013.
Records
Leading
jockey
A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...
(5 wins):
* Spreoty – ''Serenade (1848), Hervine (1851), Dame d'Honneur (1856), Mademoiselle de Chantilly (1857), Etoile du Nord (1858)''
* Charles Pratt – ''Geologie (1859), Finlande (1861), Stradella (1862), Fille de l'Air (1864), Sornette (1870)''
*
Yves Saint-Martin
Yves Saint-Martin (born 8 September 1941 in Agen, Lot-et-Garonne, France) is a retired champion jockey in French Thoroughbred horse racing. He is widely considered one of the greatest riders in French racing history.
Saint-Martin won his ...
– ''La Sega (1962), Rescousse (1972), Allez France (1973), Pawneese (1976), Madelia (1977)''
*
Gérald Mossé
Gérald Mossé (born 3 January 1967 in France) is a jockey in thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding professionally in April 1983 and his success during his apprenticeship under Patrick-Louis Biancone led to an offer to ride for renowned train ...
– ''Restless Kara (1988), Shemaka (1993), Vereva (1997), Zainta (1998), Daryaba (1999)''
Leading
trainer (9 wins):
* Henry Jennings – ''Nativa (1843), Lanterne (1844), Dorade (1846), Serenade (1848), Fleur de Marie (1850), Geologie (1859), Surprise (1860), Destinee (1874), Tyrolienne (1875)''
Leading owner (7 wins):
*
HH Aga Khan IV – ''Shemaka (1993), Vereva (1997), Zainta (1998), Daryaba (1999), Zarkava (2008), Sarafina (2010), Valyra (2012)''
Winners since 1969
Earlier winners
* 1843: Nativa
* 1844: Lanterne
* 1845: Suavita
* 1846: Dorade
* 1847: Wirthschaft
* 1848: Serenade
* 1849: Vergogne
* 1850: Fleur de Marie
* 1851: Hervine
* 1852: Bounty
* 1853: Jouvence
* 1854: Honesty
* 1855: Ronzi
* 1856: Dame d'Honneur
* 1857: Mademoiselle de Chantilly
* 1858: Etoile du Nord
* 1859: Geologie
* 1860: Surprise
* 1861: Finlande
* 1862: Stradella
* 1863: La Toucques
* 1864: Fille de l'Air
* 1865: Deliane
* 1866: Victorieuse
* 1867: Jeune Premiere
* 1868: Jenny
* 1869: Peripetie
* 1870: Sornette
* 1871: ''no race''
* 1872: Little Agnes
* 1873: Campeche
* 1874: Destinee *
* 1875: Tyrolienne *
* 1876: Mondaine
* 1877: La Jonchere
* 1878: Brie
* 1879: Nubienne
* 1880: Versigny
* 1881: Serpolette
* 1882: Mademoiselle de Senlis
* 1883: Verte Bonne
* 1884: Fregate
* 1885: Barberine
* 1886: Presta
* 1887: Bavarde
* 1888: Solange
* 1889: Criniere
* 1890: Wandora
* 1891: Primrose
* 1892: Annita
* 1893: Praline
* 1894: Brisk
* 1895: Kasbah
* 1896: Liane
* 1897: Roxelane
* 1898: Cambridge
* 1899: Germaine
* 1900: Semendria
* 1901: La Camargo
* 1902: Kizil Kourgan
* 1903: Rose de Mai
* 1904: Profane
* 1905: Clyde
* 1906: Flying Star
* 1907: Saint Astra
* 1908: Medeah
* 1909: Union
* 1910: Marsa
* 1911: Rose Verte
* 1912: Qu'elle Est Belle
* 1913: Moia
* 1914: Alerte
* 1915–18: ''no race''
* 1919: Quenouille
* 1920: Flowershop
* 1921: Doniazade
* 1922: Pellsie
* 1923: Quoi
* 1924: Uganda
* 1925: Aquatinte
* 1926: Dorina
* 1927: Fairy Legend
* 1928: Mary Legend
* 1929: Ukrania
* 1930: Commanderie
* 1931:
Pearl Cap
* 1932: Perruche Bleue
* 1933: Vendange
* 1934: Adargatis
* 1935: Peniche
* 1936: Mistress Ford
* 1937: En Fraude
* 1938: Feerie
* 1939: Lysistrata
* 1940: ''no race''
* 1941: Sapotille
* 1942: Vigilance
* 1943: Caravelle
* 1944: Pointe a Pitre
* 1945: Nikellora
* 1946: Pirette
* 1947: Montenica
* 1948: Corteira
* 1949: Bagheera
* 1950: Aglae Grace
* 1951: Stratonice
* 1952: Seria
* 1953: La Sorellina
* 1954: Tahiti
* 1955: Douve
* 1956: Apollonia
* 1957: Cerisoles
* 1958: Dushka
* 1959: Barquette
* 1960: Timandra
* 1961: Hermieres
* 1962: La Sega
* 1963: Belle Ferronniere
* 1964: Belle Sicambre
* 1965: Blabla
* 1966: Fine Pearl
* 1967: Gazala
* 1968: Roseliere
* The 1874 and 1875 races finished as dead-heats, but each was decided by a run-off.
See also
*
List of French flat horse races
References
*
Racing Post
''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing and sports betting publisher which is published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of ...
/
France Galop
France Galop is the governing body of flat and steeplechase horse racing in France. It was founded on May 3, 1995, as the result of the amalgamation of four different industry organizations. Prominent owner/breeder Jean-Luc Lagardère was elected ...
:
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galop.courses-france.com
Other
france-galop.com– ''A Brief History: Prix de Diane.''
galopp-sieger.de– ''Prix de Diane.''
horseracingintfed.com– ''International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix de Diane (2017).''
pedigreequery.com– ''Prix de Diane – Chantilly.''
– ''Prix de Diane.''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prix Diane
Flat horse races for three-year-old fillies
Chantilly Racecourse
Horse races in France
Recurring sporting events established in 1843
1843 establishments in France