Prix du Jockey Club

History

The format of the race was inspired by the English Derby, and it was named in homage to the Jockey Club based at Newmarket in England. It was established in 1836, and it was originally restricted to horses born and bred in France. Its distance was initially 2,500 metres, which was cut to 2,400 metres in 1843. It was switched to Versailles during the Revolution of 1848, and it was cancelled due to the Franco-Prussian War in 1871.
The race was abandoned in 1915, and for three years thereafter it was replaced by the Prix des Trois Ans. This took place at Moulins in 1916, Chantilly in 1917 and Maisons-Laffitte in 1918. The first two runnings after World War I were held at Longchamp.
A substitute race called the Prix de Chantilly was run at Auteuil over 2,600 metres in 1940. The Prix du Jockey Club was staged at Longchamp in 1941 and 1942, and at Le Tremblay over 2,300 metres in 1943 and 1944. It returned to Longchamp for the following three years, and on the second occasion it was opened to the best horses from any country.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Prix du Jockey Club was classed at the highest level, Group 1. The first foreign-trained horse to win was Assert in 1982. The distance was shortened to 2,100 metres in 2005.
Eleven winners of the Prix du Jockey Club have subsequently won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The first was Ksar in 1921, and the most recent was Ace Impact in 2023.

Records

Leading jockey :

Yves Saint-Martin – Reliance, Nelcius, Tapalque, Sassafras, Acamas, Top Ville, Darshaan, Mouktar, Natroun

Leading trainer :

Tom Jennings, Sr. – Porthos, Monarque, Ventre Saint Gris, Black Prince, Gabrielle d'Estrees, Consul, Insulaire, Zut, Albion, Dandin

Leading owner :

Marcel Boussac – Ramus, Tourbillon, Thor, Cillas, Pharis, Ardan, Coaraze, Sandjar, Scratch, Auriban, Philius, Acamas

Winners since 1950

Earlier winners

1836: Franck
1837: Lydia
1838: Vendredi
1839: Romulus
1840: Tontine
1841: Poetess
1842: Plover
1843: Renonce ¹
1844: Lanterne
1845: Fitz Emilius
1846: Meudon
1847: Morok
1848: Gambetti
1849: Experience
1850: Saint Germain
1851: Amalfi
1852: Porthos
1853: Jouvence
1854: Celebrity
1855: Monarque
1856: Lion ¹
1857: Potocki
1858: Ventre Saint Gris
1859: Black Prince
1860: Beauvais
1861: Gabrielle d'Estrees
1862: Souvenir
1863: La Toucques
1864: Bois Roussel
1865: Gontran
1866: Florentin
1867: Patricien
1868: Suzerain
1869: Consul
1870: Bigarreau
1871: no race
1872: Revigny
1873: Boiard
1874: Saltarelle
1875: Salvator
1876: Kilt
1877: Jongleur
1878: Insulaire
1879: Zut
1880: Beauminet
1881: Albion IV
1882: Dandin / Saint James ²
1883: Frontin
1884: Little Duck
1885: Reluisant
1886: Sycomore / Upas ²
1887: Monarque II
1888: Stuart
1889: Clover
1890: Heaume
1891: Ermak
1892: Chene Royal
1893: Ragotsky
1894: Gospodar
1895: Omnium II
1896: Champaubert
1897: Palmiste
1898: Gardefeu
1899: Perth
1900: La Moriniere
1901: Saxon
1902: Retz
1903: Ex Voto
1904: Ajax
1905: Finasseur
1906: Maintenon
1907: Mordant
1908: Quintette / Sea Sick ²
1909: Negofol
1910: Or du Rhin
1911: Alcantara
1912: Friant
1913: Dagor
1914: Sardanapale
1915: no race
1916: Teddy
1917: Brumelli
1918: Montmartin
1919: Tchad
1920: Sourbier
1921: Ksar
1922: Ramus
1923: Le Capucin
1924: Pot au Feu
1925: Belfonds
1926: Madrigal
1927: Mon Talisman
1928: Le Correge
1929: Hotweed
1930: Chateau Bouscaut
1931: Tourbillon
1932: Strip the Willow
1933: Thor
1934: Duplex
1935: Pearlweed
1936: Mieuxce
1937: Clairvoyant
1938: Cillas
1939: Pharis
1940: Quicko
1941: Le Pacha
1942: Magister
1943: Verso II
1944: Ardan
1945: Coaraze
1946: Prince Chevalier
1947: Sandjar
1948: Bey
1949: Good Luck

¹ The 1843 and 1856 races finished as dead-heats, but each was decided by a run-off.
² The 1882, 1886 and 1908 races were dead-heats and have joint winners.