Yves Saint-Martin (born 8 September 1941 in Agen, Lot-et-Garonne, France) is a retired champion

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 ...

in French Thoroughbred horse racing. He is widely considered one of the greatest riders in French racing history. Saint-Martin won his first race on 26 July 1958 for Mme Suzy Volterra. He went on to be France leading jockey fifteen times, winning the title in 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1981 and 1983. In his career, Yves Saint-Martin won 3314 races worldwide, of which 3275 were in France. He is tied with three others for most wins (4) in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and holds the record for most victories in several other

Group One Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern races, Pattern race sys ...

races, including the Prix du Jockey Club with nine. He has won a total of 30 Classics in France. At Laurel Park Racecourse near

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, Saint-Martin won the 1962 Washington, D.C. International aboard Match II defeating both Carry Back and the Kelso. He won the French "Academie des sports" award ''Prix Claude Foussier'' in 1971. Now retired, Yves Saint-Martin is an avid collector of vintage automobiles, owing classic models such as the

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, Rolls-Royce and

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. His son Eric is also a successful jockey who has raced in France and in Hong Kong.

Major Wins

France * Critérium de Saint-Cloud - (6) - ''Fire Crest (1967), Rheffic (1970), Ribecourt (1973), Tarek (1977), Darshaan (1983), Mouktar (1984)'' *

Grand Critérium Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor * Grand Mixer DXT, American turntablist * Grand Puba (born 1966), American rapper Places * Grand, Oklahoma * Grand, Vosges, village and commun ...

- (1) - ''Danishkada (1986)'' * Grand Prix de Paris - (4) - ''Reliance (1965), Danseur (1966), Exceller (1976), Sumayr (1985)'' * Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud - (7) - ''

Relko Relko (1960–1982) was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a racing career which lasted from 1962 until 1964 he ran thirteen times and won nine races. His most notable win came in the 1963 Derby. Background Relko was a "strong, com ...

(1964), Rheingold (1972 & 1973), Dahlia (1974), Shakapour (dead-heat 1980), Akarad (1981), Strawberry Road (1985)'' * Poule d'Essai des Poulains - (5) - ''Adamastor (1962),

(1963), Zeddaan (1968), Melyno (1982), No Pass No Sale (1985)'' *

Poule d'Essai des Pouliches The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at ...

- (7) - ''Solitude (1961), La Sega (1962), Pola Bella (1968), Koblenza (1969),

Allez France Allez France (24 May 1970 – 11 December 1989) was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Winner of the French 1000 Guineas, the French Oaks and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, she was one of the greatest-ever ...

(1973), Madelia (1977), Masarika (1984)'' * Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp - (5) - ''Fortino (1962), Texanita (1963), Silver Shark (1965), Farhana (1966), Lianga (1975)'' * Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - (4) - '' Sassafras (1970),

(1974), Akiyda (1982), Sagace (1984)'' *

Prix d'Astarté The Prix Rothschild is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled ...

- (5) - ''Breloque (1960), Tamouré (1965), Cover Girl (1966), Gay Style (1974), Carolina Moon (1976)'' *

Prix du Cadran The Prix du Cadran is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 4,000 metres (about 2 miles), and it is scheduled to take ...

- (5) - ''Waldmeister (1965), Danseur (1967), Recupere (1974), Buckskin (1977 & 1978)'' * Prix de Diane - (5) - ''La Sega (1962), Rescousse (1972),

(1973), Pawneese (1976), Madelia (1977)'' * Prix de la Forêt - (2) - ''Faraway Son (1971), African Sky (1973)'' * Prix Ganay - (6) - ''

(1964), Taj Dewan (1968), Rheingold (1973),

(1974 & 1975), Sagace (1985)'' * Prix d'Ispahan - (7) - ''La Sega (1962), Jour et Nuit (1964), Silver Shark (1966), Zeddaan (1968), La Troublerie (1973),

(1974), Crystal Glitters (1983)'' *

Prix Jacques le Marois The Prix Jacques Le Marois is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile ...

- (3) - ''Dictus (1971), Lianga (1975), Flying Water (1977)'' * Prix Jean Prat - (6) - ''Jour et Nuit (1964), Silver Shark (1966), Antipode (1974), Earth Spirit (1976), Melyno (1982), Ginger Brink (1983)'' * Prix du Jockey-Club - (9) - ''Reliance (1965), Nelcius (1966), Tapalque (1968), Sassafras (1970), Acamas (1978), Top Ville (1979), Darshaan (1984), Mouktar (1985), Natroun (1987)'' *

Prix Lupin The Prix Lupin was a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It was run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs), and it was scheduled to take place each year in ...

- (2) - ''Acamas (1978), Top Ville (1979)'' * Prix Marcel Boussac - (3) - ''

(1972), Theia (1975), Aryenne (1979)'' *

Prix Maurice de Gheest The Prix Maurice de Gheest is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,300 metres (about 6½ furlongs), and it is sched ...

- (2) - ''Irish Minstrel (1970), Flying Water (1977)'' * Prix Morny - (3) - ''Solitude (1960), Amber Rama (1969), Broadway Dancer (1974)'' *

Prix du Moulin de Longchamp The Prix du Moulin de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is sch ...

- (4) - ''Silver Shark (1966), Pola Bella (1968), Faraway Son (1971), Gravelines (1976)'' *

Prix de l'Opéra The Prix de l'Opéra is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it ...

- (3) - ''Sea Sands (1975), Waya (1977), Kilmona (1981)'' * Prix Royal-Oak - (4) - ''

(1963), Reliance (1965), Sassafras (1970), Denel (1982)'' * Prix Saint-Alary - (6) - ''Solitude (1961), La Sega (1962), Tonnera (1966), Saraca (1969), Madelia (1977), Grise Mine (1984)'' * Prix de la Salamandre - (2) - ''Batitu (1967), Noblequest (1984)'' * Prix Vermeille - (7) - ''Golden Girl (1963), Casaque Grise (1967), Saraca (1969),

(1973), Paulista (1974), Sharaya (1983),

Darara Darara (11 May 1983 – June 2012) was an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Her racing career was restricted to six races between June and November 1983 and included three wins including the Prix Vermeille an ...

(1986)'' ---- Germany * Preis von Europa - (1) - ''Sumayr (1985)'' ---- Great Britain *

1,000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 ...

- (2) - ''Altesse Royale (1971), Flying Water (1976)'' *

2,000 Guineas The 2000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres) and scheduled to take place each year at ...

- (1) - ''Nonoalco (1974)'' *

Champion Stakes The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlong ...

- (3) - ''Flying Water (1977), Vayrann (1981), Palace Music (1984)'' * Coronation Cup - (2) - ''Dicta Drake (1962),

(1964)'' * Coronation Stakes - (1) - ''Kesar Queen (1976)'' *

Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes, also known as the Epsom Derby or the Derby, and as the Cazoo Derby for sponsorship reasons, is a Group 1 flat horse race in England open to three-year-old colts and fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey o ...

- (1) - ''

(1963)'' * Haydock Sprint Cup - (1) - ''Lianga (1975)'' *

July Cup The July Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres ...

- (1) - ''Lianga (1975)'' * King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes - (2) - '' Match II (1962), Pawneese (1976)'' * King's Stand Stakes - (2) - ''Amber Rama (1970), Flirting Around (1975)'' * Nunthorpe Stakes - (1) - '' Last Tycoon (1986)'' * Epsom Oaks - (2) - ''Monade (1962), Pawneese (1976)'' *

St. Leger The St Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a d ...

- (1) - ''Crow (1976)'' ---- Ireland *

Irish Derby The Irish Derby (Irish: Dearbaí na hÉireann) is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 ...

- (1) - ''English Prince (1974)'' ---- Italy * Gran Premio di Milano - (1) - ''Rouge Sang (1976)'' ---- United States * Breeders' Cup Mile - (1) - '' Last Tycoon (1986)'' *

Hollywood Derby The Hollywood Derby is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November/early December. Now held at Del Mar racetrack in San Diego, California, until 2014 it was held at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. T ...

- (1) ''Slew The Dragon (1985)'' *

Breeders' Cup Turf The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current ...

- (1) - ''Lashkari (1984)'' * Washington, D.C. International - (1) - '' Match II (1962)'' ----

References

* Saint-Martin, Yves & François, Jean-Michel. ''Au galop'' (1986) Broché
November 23, 1962 TIME magazine article on Yves Saint-Martin and the 1962 Washington, D.C. International
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint-Martin, Yves Sportspeople from Agen 1941 births Living people French jockeys Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur