François Doumen (born 11 June 1940) is a retired French

racehorse 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 ...

trainer. He was a winner of the King George VI Chase on five occasions with ''Nupsala (1987), The Fellow (1991, 1992), Algan (1994), First Gold (2000), and the

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlon ...

with The Fellow (1994).

Life and career

Doumen born 11 June 1940 in

Angoulême Angoulême (; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Engoulaeme''; ) is a small city in the southwestern French Departments of France, department of Charente, of which it is the Prefectures of France, prefecture. Located on a plateau overlooking a meander of ...

, Poitevin-Saintongeais. As a young man he had also been a competitive slalom skier. From 1956 to 1970 he was an amateur

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 ...

, and he then worked as an assistant trainer to his father Jean, who was a jockey and trainer at

Maisons-Laffitte Maisons-Laffitte () is a Communes of France, commune in the Yvelines Departments of France, department in the northern Île-de-France Regions of France, region of France. It is a part of the affluent outer suburbs of northwestern Paris, from its ...

for over 50 years. His older brother Christophe was also a racehorse trainer. François obtained his own training licence in 1977, working in Boucé, Orne. His first successful outing in the UK was in 1987, winning the

Boxing Day Boxing Day, also called as Offering Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (26 December). Boxing Day was once a day to donate gifts to those in need, but it has evolved to become a part ...

King George VI Chase at Kempton with the 25-1 outsider Nupsala, the first French horse to do so. He won the same race in 1991 and 1992 with The Fellow, who went on to win the

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlon ...

for Doumen in 1994. Doumen stop training jump horses at the age of 70 in 2010, and retired from training altogether in August 2017, after suffering ill health. Doumen was initially based at

, and he subsequently moved to Lamorlaye and later

Chantilly Chantilly may refer to: Places France *Chantilly, Oise, a city ** US Chantilly, a football club *Château de Chantilly United States * Chantilly, Missouri, an unincorporated community * Chantilly (Charlotte neighborhood), North Carolina ...

and Boucé, Orne. Doumen was successful in both flat and jump racing, and his most notable horses included The Fellow, Jim and Tonic and Baracouda. His son, Thierry, is also a trainer and a former jockey.

Major wins

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

* Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris - (5) - '' The Fellow (1991), Ucello II (1993, 1994), Ubu III (1995), First Gold (1998)'' * Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil - (3) - ''Ubu III (1992, 1993), Laveron (2002)'' *

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 t ...

- (1) - ''Kasbah Bliss (2011)'' * Prix Ferdinand Dufaure - (1) - ''Ucello II (1990)'' * Prix La Haye Jousselin - (3) - '' The Fellow (1990), Ucello II (1992), First Gold (2000)'' ----

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

* E. P. Taylor Stakes - (1) - '' Siyouma (2012)'' ----

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlon ...

- (1) - '' The Fellow (1994)'' * Feltham Novices' Chase - (1) - ''Djeddah (1996)'' * King George VI Chase - (5) - ''Nupsala (1987), The Fellow (1991, 1992), Algan (1994), First Gold (2000)'' * Long Walk Hurdle - (4) - '' Baracouda (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004)'' * Sun Chariot Stakes - (1) - ''Siyouma (2012)'' * Triumph Hurdle - (1) - ''Snow Drop (2000)'' * World Hurdle - (2) - ''Baracouda (2002, 2003)'' ----

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

* Hong Kong Bowl - (1) - '' Jim and Tonic (1998)'' * Hong Kong Cup - (1) - ''Jim and Tonic (1999)'' *

Queen Elizabeth II Cup The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race at Sha Tin Racecourse in the New Territories, Hong Kong. Established in 1975 by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, it is run annually in April over a distance of 2,000 metres (te ...

- (1) - ''Jim and Tonic (1999)'' ----

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

Punchestown Gold Cup The Punchestown Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles and ½ furlong (3 miles and 12 ...

- (1) - ''First Gold (2003)'' ----

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a Federal monarchy, federal elective monarchy made up of Emirates of the United Arab E ...

Dubai Duty Free Dubai Duty Free (DDF) is the company responsible for duty-free selling operations at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport. Founded in December 1983, DDF recorded first-year sales of US$20 million. In 2023, its 40 ...

- (1) - ''Jim and Tonic (2001)'' ---- United States * Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap - (1) - ''Double Bed (1988)''

References

External links

guardian.co.uk
– ''"Bliss makes the Doumen gloom vanish".''

– ''"Doumens at the double".'' Living people 1940 births French horse trainers {{France-horseracing-bio-stub