Prix des Chênes

The Prix des Chênes is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. 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 September.

History

The event was originally open to two-year-olds of either gender. It was established in 1882, and was contested over 1,600 metres at Longchamp.

The race was abandoned during World War I, with no running from 1914 to 1919.

Due to World War II, the Prix des Chênes was cancelled in 1939 and 1940. It was held at Le Tremblay in 1943, and was cancelled again in 1944.

The race was cut to 1,400 metres in 1964. It reverted to 1,600 metres in 1966.

The Prix des Chênes left Longchamp after 1988. For brief spells it was staged at Saint-Cloud (1989–90, 1994), Évry (1991–93) and Chantilly (1995). It returned to Longchamp and was closed to fillies in 1996.

The race formerly served as a trial for the Grand Critérium. It is now more usually a trial for the Critérium International.

Records

Leading jockey (5 wins):

• Frank O'Neill – Mongolie (1911), Pirpiriol (1912), Phusla (1920), Saint Hubert (1922), Cadum (1923)
• Charles Semblat – Lucide (1924), Becassine (1925), Verdi (1928), Cassandre (1930), Vaucouleurs (1931)
• Yves Saint-Martin – Taraval (1963), Bord a Bord (1964), Stanleyville (1972), Captive Island (1984), Splendid Moment (1985)

Leading trainer (10 wins):

• André Fabre – Along All (1988), Manninamix (1995), Grazalema (1998), Equerry (2000), Shaanmer (2001), Carlotamix (2005), French Navy (2010), Cloth of Stars (2015), Akihiro (2016), Ancient Rome (2021)

Leading owner (6 wins):

• Édouard de Rothschild – Vertumne (1902), Cadum (1923), Bubbles (1927), Godiche (1929), Gonfalonier (1936), Irifle (1938)

Winners since 1978

Earlier winners

• 1882: Parthenope
• 1883: Carmelite
• 1884: Maman Berthe
• 1885:
• 1886: Concordia
• 1887: Fumiste
• 1888: Tire-Larigot
• 1889: Master Gillam
• 1890: Espion
• 1891: Incitatus
• 1892: Argenteuil
• 1893: Chartreuse
• 1894: Le Justicier
• 1895: Epicharis
• 1896:
• 1897: Infant
• 1898: Maurice
• 1899: Love Grass
• 1900: Saint Armel
• 1901: Montgaillard
• 1902: Vertumne
• 1903: Feuille de Chou
• 1904: Finasseur
• 1905: Moulins la Marche
• 1906: Imperia
• 1907: Quintette
• 1908: Kumamoto
• 1909: Soleil
• 1910: Faucheur
• 1911: Mongolie
• 1912: Pirpiriol
• 1913: Oued
• 1914–19: no race
• 1920: Phusla
• 1921: Syntheme
• 1922: Saint Hubert
• 1923: Cadum
• 1924: Lucide
• 1925: Becassine
• 1926: La Desirade
• 1927: Bubbles
• 1928: Verdi
• 1929: Godiche
• 1930: Cassandre
• 1931: Vaucouleurs
• 1932: Pantalon
• 1933: Denver
• 1934: Ping Pong
• 1935: Don Milo
• 1936: Gonfalonier
• 1937: Love Secret
• 1938: Irifle
• 1939–40: no race
• 1941: My Drake / Tartarin *
• 1942: Micipsa
• 1943: Vole Vite
• 1944: no race
• 1945: Fasano
• 1946:
• 1947:
• 1948: Fontenay
• 1949: Eppi d'Or
• 1950: Lavarede
• 1951: Galeace
• 1952: Corioline
• 1953: Alba Nox
• 1954: Fersen
• 1955:
• 1956: Mourne
• 1957: Arsar
• 1958: Tiepoletto
• 1959: Tanata
• 1960: Misti
• 1961: Tracy
• 1962: Beautiful
• 1963: Taraval
• 1964: Bord a Bord
• 1965: Behistoun
• 1966: Frontal
• 1967: Verglas
• 1968: Tuxpan
• 1969: Experio
• 1970: Maraschino
• 1971: Banaldo
• 1972: Stanleyville
• 1973: Bayraan
• 1974: Mariacci
• 1975: French Swanee

* The 1941 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.

See also

• List of French flat horse races

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

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