The Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte is a

Group 2 The term Group 2 may refer to: * Alkaline earth metal, a chemical element classification * Astronaut Group 2, also known as The New Nine, the second group of astronauts selected by NASA in 1962 * Group 2 (racing), an FIA classification for cars in ...

flat horse race in France open to two-year-old

thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

s. It is run at

Chantilly Chantilly may refer to: Places France *Chantilly, Oise, a city located in the Oise department **US Chantilly, a football club *Château de Chantilly, a historic château located in the town of Chantilly United States * Chantilly, Missou ...

over a distance of 1,200 metres (about 6 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.

History

The event was established in 1891 at

Maisons-Laffitte Maisons-Laffitte () is a commune in the Yvelines department in the northern Île-de-France region of France. It is a part of the affluent outer suburbs of northwestern Paris, from its centre. In 2018, it had a population of 23,611. Maisons-Laf ...

, and it was originally held in September. It served as a trial for the

Grand Critérium Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor * Grand Mixer DXT, American turntablist * Grand Puba (born 1966), American rapper Places * Grand, Oklahoma * Grand, Vosges, village and c ...

in mid-October. It was initially contested over 1,400 metres, and was shortened to 1,200 metres in 1897. The Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1914 to 1919. It was extended to 1,500 metres in 1922. The race was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. It was staged at Longchamp in 1941 and 1942, and at Le Tremblay over 1,400 metres in 1944. It took place at Longchamp again in 1945, and was abandoned in 1948. Its regular distance was cut to 1,400 metres in 1952. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte was classed at Group 2 level. It was moved to late October or early November in 1981. The event was contested at Évry over 1,300 metres in 1995 and 1996. During this period it was called the Critérium des Deux Ans. It reverted to 1,400 metres in 1997, and started its present spell over 1,200 metres in 2001. The race was moved to mid-October in 2015 as part of a series of changes to autumn races for two-year-olds. Maisons-Laffitte closed at the end of the 2019 season and the race has been run at

since 2020.

Records

Leading jockey (4 wins): *

Freddy Head Freddy Head (born 19 June 1947, in Neuilly, France) is a retired champion jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing and currently a horse trainer. Known also as "Freddie", his grandfather was a jockey as was his father Alec Head who also became a succes ...

– ''Rimesault (1968), Rose Laurel (1972), Vallee des Fleurs (1977), Rapide Pied (1984)'' * Philippe Paquet – ''Crowned Music (1978), Viteric (1979), Cresta Rider (1980), Zino (1981)'' *

Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon (born 4 June 1981) is a Belgian jockey based in France. Career Coming from a racing background, Soumillon is the son of jump jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon. He rode in pony races and left Belgium aged fifteen to go to the racing ...

– ''Zinziberine (2002), Whipper (2003), Captain Marvelous (2006), Kiram (2013)'' ---- Leading trainer (9 wins): *

François Boutin François Boutin (21 January 1937 – 1 February 1995) was a French Thoroughbred horse trainer. The son of a farmer, he was born in the village of Beaunay in the northerly Seine Maritime département. He began riding horses at a young age and ...

– ''Speedy Dakota (1974), Crowned Music (1978), Viteric (1979), Cresta Rider (1980), Zino (1981), L'Emigrant (1982), Procida (1983), Corviglia (1988), Ganges (1990)'' ---- Leading owner (9 wins): *

Marcel Boussac Marcel Boussac (17 April 1889 – 21 March 1980) was a French entrepreneur best known for his ownership of the Maison Dior and one of the most successful thoroughbred race horse breeding farms in European history. Born in Châteauroux, Indre, ...

– ''Ramus (1921), Nosca (1941), Sandjar (1946), Djeddah (1947), Pharad (1951), Albanilla (1953), Janiari (1955), Floriana (1958), Perello (1976)''

Winners since 1978

Earlier winners

* 1891: Idalie * 1892: Commandeur * 1893: L'Herault * 1894: Cherbourg * 1895: Champignol * 1896: Fils de Roi * 1897: Artisan * 1898: Holocauste * 1899: Ramadan * 1900: Butor * 1901: Le Mandinet * 1902: Hebron * 1903: French Fox * 1904: Val d'Or * 1905:

Prestige Prestige refers to a good reputation or high esteem; in earlier usage, ''prestige'' meant "showiness". (19th c.) Prestige may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Films * ''Prestige'' (film), a 1932 American film directed by Tay Garnet ...

* 1906: Peroraison * 1907: Northeast * 1908: Azalee * 1909: Nuage * 1910: Nectarine * 1911: Montrose * 1912: Coupesarte * 1913: Listman * 1914–19: ''no race'' * 1920: Cortland * 1921: Ramus * 1922:

Épinard Épinard (1920–1942) was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Background Epinard was a chestnut stallion owned and bred by Pierre Wertheimer. He sired by Badajoz from Epine Blanche by the British Triple Crown winner Rock Sand. Epine Bl ...

* 1923: Carnation * 1924: Melisande * 1925: Apelle * 1926: Fenimore Cooper ¹ * 1927: Mourad * 1928: Florio * 1929: Le Val d'Enfer * 1930: Indus * 1931: Present * 1932: Le Cacique * 1933: Boucan * 1934: Clain * 1935: Alejo * 1936: May Wong * 1937: Blue Star * 1938: Birikil * 1939–40: ''no race'' * 1941: Nosca * 1942: Pensbury * 1943: Turquoise * 1944: * 1945: Tourmente * 1946: Sandjar * 1947: Djeddah * 1948: ''no race'' * 1949: Fort Napoleon * 1950: Le Tyrol * 1951: Pharad * 1952: Fort de France * 1953: Albanilla * 1954: Soleil Royal * 1955: Janiari * 1956: Achaz * 1957:

Bella Paola Bella Paola (foaled 1955) was a French Thoroughbred Horse racing, racehorse who won several major races in France and Britain including the British Classic Races, classic 1,000 Guineas Stakes, 1,000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks in 1957. Background Be ...

* 1958: Floriana * 1959: Djebel Traffic * 1960: Star * 1961: Lebon M L * 1962: Neptune's Doll * 1963: Soleil d'Or * 1964:

Sea Bird Seabirds (also known as marine birds) are birds that are adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same enviro ...

* 1965: Hauban * 1966: Gazala * 1967: Pola Bella * 1968: Rimesault * 1969: Faraway Son * 1970: Round Top * 1971: Steel Pulse * 1972: Rose Laurel * 1973: Wittgenstein * 1974: Speedy Dakota * 1975: Earth Spirit * 1976: Perello * 1977: Vallee des Fleurs ² ¹ Jopp finished first in 1926, but was relegated to second place following a stewards' inquiry.
² Cosmopolitan was first in 1977, but he was placed second after a stewards' inquiry.

References

* France Galop / Racing Post: ** , , , , , , , , , ** , , , , , , , , , ** , , , , , , , , , ** , , , , , , , , , ** , , * galop.courses-france.com: *
1891–19191920–19491950–19791980–present

– ''A Brief History: Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte.''
galopp-sieger.de
– ''Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte.''
horseracingintfed.com
– ''International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (2016).''
pedigreequery.com
– ''Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte – Maisons-Laffitte.'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Criterium Maisons Laffitte Flat horse races for two-year-olds Chantilly Racecourse Horse races in France Recurring sporting events established in 1891

History

Records

Winners since 1978

Earlier winners

See also

References