The Prix Marcel Boussac is a

Group 1 Group 1 may refer to: * Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal * Group 1 (motorsport), a regulation set of the FIA for series-production touring cars used in motorsport. * Group One Thoroughbred horse races, the leading e ...

flat

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, 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, as its bas ...

in France open to two-year-old

thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

fillies A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use: *In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old. *In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, th ...

. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October. It is France's only Group 1 event exclusively for juvenile fillies. The leading participants usually become major contenders for the following year's fillies' Classics.

History

The event was established in 1969, and it was originally called the Critérium des Pouliches. The best two-year-old fillies had previously competed against male horses in the

Grand Critérium Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor Places * Grand, Oklahoma, USA * Grand, Vosges, village and commune in France with Gallo-Roman amphitheatre * Grand County (disambiguation), ...

. The race was given its present title in 1980, in memory of

Marcel Boussac Marcel Boussac (17 April 1889 – 21 March 1980) was a French entrepreneur best known for his ownership of the Maison Dior and one of the most successful thoroughbred race horse breeding farms in European history. Born in Châteauroux, Indre, ...

(1889–1980). Boussac was a highly successful owner/breeder, and he served as chairman of the sport's former governing body in France, the Société d'Encouragement. The Prix Marcel Boussac took place on Longchamp's middle course (''moyenne piste'') until 1986. It was switched to the main course (''grande piste'') in 1987. The race is held on the same day as 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 over a distance ...

. The fixture is usually staged on the first Sunday in October.

Records

Leading

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), 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 ...

(3 wins): *

Lester Piggott Lester Keith Piggott (5 November 1935 – 29 May 2022) was an English professional jockey and horse trainer. With 4,493 career flat racing wins in Britain, including a record nine Epsom Derby victories, he is widely regarded as one of the grea ...

– ''Vela (1969), Play It Safe (1981), Midway Lady (1985)'' *

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 race, Thoroughbred horse racing. He is widely considered one of the greatest riders in French racing history. ...

– ''Allez France (1972), Theia (1975), Aryenne (1979)'' *

Alain Lequeux Alain Lequeux (1947 – 26 April 2006) was one of France's leading jockeys in the 1970s and 1980s. He won 33 Group or Grade 1 races, including the 1981 Washington, D.C. International Stakes aboard Providential for trainer Charlie Whittingham. So ...

– ''Tropicaro (1980), Triptych (1984), Mary Linoa (1988)'' *

Willie Carson William Fisher Hunter Carson, OBE (born 16 November 1942) is a retired jockey in thoroughbred horse racing. Life and career Best known as "Willie", Carson was born in Stirling, Scotland in 1942. He was apprenticed ...

– ''Ashayer (1987), Salsabil (1989), Shadayid (1990)'' *

Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier (born 12 January 1973 in Château-Gontier) is a French thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Peslier competes in flat racing mainly in France but travels often around the world for the big international races. From 2003 to 2014, he wa ...

– ''Miss Tahiti (1995), Lady Of Chad (1999), Silasol (2012)'' Leading trainer (5 wins): *

Pascal Bary Pascal Bary (born 4 April 1953) is a French Horse racing, racehorse Horse trainer, trainer. He has been training since 1981, having previously worked as an assistant to François Boutin. He is based at Chantilly, Oise. Major wins Dubai * Dubai ...

– ''Sierra Madre (1993), Amonita (2000), Six Perfections (2002), Denebola (2003), Divine Proportions (2004)'' *

Criquette Head-Maarek Christiane "Criquette" Head (born 6 November 1948 at Marly-le-Roi, near Maisons-Laffitte, France) is a retired French racehorse trainer. Known as Criquette, she was born into the Thoroughbred horse racing business. Her great grandfather was a j ...

– ''Gold Splash (1992), Macoumba (1994), Loving Claim (1997), Juvenia (1998), Proportional (2008)'' *

Aidan O'Brien Aidan Patrick O'Brien (born 16 October 1969 in County Wexford, Ireland) Aidan O'Brien bio NTRA. ...

– ''Rumplestiltskin (2005), Misty for Me (2010), Found (2014), Ballydoyle (2015), Opera Singer (2023)'' Leading owner (4 wins): ''(includes part ownership)'' *

Niarchos Family Stavros Spyrou Niarchos (, ; 3 July 1909 – 15 April 1996) was a Greek billionaire shipping tycoon. Starting in 1952, he had the world's biggest supertankers built for his fleet. Propelled by both the Suez Crisis and increasing demand for oil, ...

– ''Six Perfections (2002), Denebola (2003), Divine Proportions (2004), Rumplestiltskin (2005)'' *

Michael Tabor Michael Barry Tabor (born 28 October 1941) is a British racehorse owner. As a partner in Coolmore Stud, he is one of only four racehorse owners to have won both the Epsom Derby and the Kentucky Derby. Tabor has extensive business interest ...

- ''Rumplestiltskin (2005), Misty For Me (2010), Found (2014), Ballydoyle (2015)'' * Susan Magnier – ''Rumplestiltskin (2005), Misty For Me (2010), Found (2014), Ballydoyle (2015)''

Winners

References

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 ...

Racing Post ''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing, and sports betting publisher published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of 60,629 ...

: ** , , , , , , , , , ** , , , , , , , , , ** , , , , , , , , , ** , , , , , , , , , ** , , , , , ---- * galop.courses-france.com: *
1969–19791980–present

– ''A Brief History: Prix Marcel Boussac.''
galopp-sieger.de
– ''Prix Marcel Boussac (ex Critérium des Pouliches).''
horseracingintfed.com
– ''International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Marcel Boussac (2018).''
pedigreequery.com
– ''Prix Marcel Boussac – Longchamp.''

{{Arc Weekend Flat horse races for two-year-old fillies Longchamp Racecourse Horse races in France 1969 establishments in France

History

Records

Winners

See also

References