Prix Foy

The Prix Foy is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

The race serves as a trial for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, which is held at the same venue three weeks later.

History

The event is named in memory of Henri Foy (1872–1954), a long-serving member of the Société d'Encouragement, a former governing body of horse racing in France. It was established in 1955, and originally called the Prix Henri Foy.

The race was initially contested over 2,300 metres, and for a period it was open to horses aged three or older. It was cut to 2,200 metres in 1961, and the minimum age was raised to four in 1967. Its title was shortened to the Prix Foy in 1969.

The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Prix Foy was given Group 3 status. It was subsequently run on the same day as the Prix Niel, a similar event restricted to three-year-olds.

The race was extended to 2,400 metres in 1979. It was promoted to Group 2 level in 1998.

Three winners of the Prix Foy have achieved victory in the same year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – Allez France (1974), Sagace (1984) and Waldgeist (2019). Three horses have won the Arc after being defeated in this event – Gold River (1981), All Along (1983) and Subotica (1992).

Prix Foy is eligible for geldings from 2020.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

• Allez France – 1974, 1975
• Sagace – 1984, 1985
• Orfevre – 2012, 2013
• Waldgeist – 2018, 2019

Leading jockey (9 wins):

• Yves Saint-Martin – Suffren (1960), Acer (1964), Petrone (1968), Snow Castle (1972), Allez France (1974, 1975), Sagace (1984, 1985), Mersey (1986)

Leading trainer (11 wins):

• André Fabre – Ordinance (1987), Star Lift(1989), In the Wings (1990), Richard of York (1994), Carnegie (1995), Swain (1996), Shirocco (2006), Manduro (2007), Waldgeist (2018, 2019), Place Du Carrousel (2023)

Leading owner (7 wins):

• Daniel Wildenstein – Petrone (1968), Allez France (1974, 1975), Sagace (1984, 1985), Mersey (1986), Star Lift (1989)

Winners since 1979

Earlier winners

• 1955: Norman
• 1956: Fric
• 1957: Blockhaus
• 1958: Primesautier
• 1959: Bel Baraka
• 1960: Suffren
• 1961: Right Royal
• 1962: Exbury
• 1963: Misti
• 1964: Acer
• 1965: Sigebert
• 1966: Taneb
• 1967: Busted
• 1968: Petrone
• 1969: Park Top
• 1970: Lorenzaccio
• 1971: Prominent
• 1972: Snow Castle
• 1973: Direct Flight
• 1974: Allez France
• 1975: Allez France
• 1976: Kasteel
• 1977: Malacate
• 1978: Trillion

See also

• List of French flat horse races

• France Galop / Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

• – A Brief History: Prix Foy.
• – Prix Foy.
• – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Foy (2016).
• – Prix Foy – Longchamp.