The Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp is a
Group 1 flat horse race in France open to
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 ...
s aged two years or older. It is run at
Longchamp over a distance of 1,000 metres (about 5 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.
History
The event is named after the Abbaye de Longchamp, an abbey founded in the 13th century by
Isabelle, the sister of
Saint Louis. The abbey was located on what became the northern edge of the racecourse. It was destroyed during the
French Revolution, and its site is now partly occupied by the Château de Longchamp.
The Prix de l'Abbaye was one of two major races introduced to celebrate Longchamp's centenary in 1957. Both were added to the
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe fixture, which is usually on the first Sunday in October. The other event, the
Prix du Moulin, was subsequently moved to September.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Prix de l'Abbaye was initially given Group 2 status. It was promoted to Group 1 level in 1976. It originally excluded
gelding
A gelding (Help:IPA/English, /ˈɡɛldɪŋ/) is a castration, castrated male horse or other equine, such as a pony, donkey or a mule. The term is also used with certain other animals and livestock, such as domesticated Camelidae, camels. By compa ...
s, but the restriction was lifted in 2001.
The Prix de l'Abbaye became part of the
Breeders' Cup Challenge series in 2009. From this point the winner earned an automatic invitation to compete in the
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. It was removed from the series in 2011.
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
* Texanita – ''1963, 1964''
*
Gentilhombre – ''1976 (dead-heat), 1977''
*
Committed – ''1984, 1985''
*
Lochsong – ''1993, 1994''
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 ...
(5 wins):
*
Yves Saint-Martin – ''Fortino (1962), Texanita (1963), Silver Shark (1965), Farhana (1966), Lianga (1975)''
Leading
trainer (8 wins):
*
François Mathet – ''Texana (1957), Edellic (1958), Fortino (1962), Texanita (1963, 1964), Silver Shark (1965), Farhana (1966), Moubariz (1974)''
Leading owner (4 wins):
*
François Dupré – ''Texana (1957), Fortino (1962), Texanita (1963, 1964)''
*
Robert Sangster – ''Committed (1984), Double Schwartz (1986), Handsome Sailor (1988), Carmine Lake (1997)''
Winners since 1972
Earlier winners
* 1957: Texana
* 1958: Edellic
* 1959: Sly Pola
* 1960: High Bulk
* 1961: L'Epinay
* 1962: Fortino
* 1963: Texanita
* 1964: Texanita
* 1965: Silver Shark
* 1966: Farhana
* 1967: Pentathlon
* 1968: Be Friendly
* 1969: Tower Walk
* 1970: Balidar
* 1971: Sweet Revenge
See also
*
List of French flat horse races
References
*
France Galop /
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 ...
:
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External links
* Race Recordings (1980, 1985-2006
youtube.com* galop.courses-france.com:
*
1957–19791980–present
– ''A Brief History: Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp.''
galopp-sieger.de
– ''Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp.''
horseracingintfed.com
– ''International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (2018).''
pedigreequery.com
– ''Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp – Longchamp.''
;Specific
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prix Abbaye Longchamp
Open sprint category horse races
Longchamp Racecourse
Horse races in France
Horse races established in 1957
1957 establishments in France