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Comtesse de Loir (1971 – after 1993) was a French
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 ...
racehorse and
broodmare A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four ...
. In her three-year racing career, she won only one important race, the
Prix Saint-Alary The Prix Saint-Alary is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Longchamp in Paris over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1 miles), and take ...
in 1974. but was placed in numerous major events including the Critérium des Pouliches,
Prix de Diane The Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks, is one of the most important and prestigious Group 1 horse races in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at C ...
,
Prix Vermeille The Prix Vermeille is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles) ...
,
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe () is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris over a distance ...
(twice),
Prix Ganay The Prix Ganay is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs) at L ...
,
Canadian International Stakes The Canadian International Stakes is a Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses from three years of age and upwards on Turf. It is held annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The current purse is . History The Cana ...
and Washington, D.C. International. Her performance in the 1973 Arc, when she was beaten a head by
Allez France Allez France (24 May 1970 – 11 December 1989) was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Winner of the French 1000 Guineas, the French Oaks and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, she was one of the greatest-ever ...
, saw her rated the best three-year-old of either sex to race in Europe that year.


Background

Comtesse de Loir was a "lightly-made, quite attractive" bay mare with no white
markings Marking may refer to: Symbols Marking may refer to human-made symbols and annotations in several contexts: On vehicles * Aircraft marking * Emergency vehicle equipment markings ** Battenburg markings, emergency vehicle patterns * Vehicle marki ...
bred in France by Souren Vanian. She was one of the best horses sired by Val de Loir who won the Prix du Jockey Club in 1962. Comtesse de Loir's dam Neriad won only one minor race in the United States, but became a highly influential broodmare, whose descendants included
Miesque Miesque ( ; March 14, 1984 – January 20, 2011) was a champion Thoroughbred racemare. At age three, she was a dual Classic winner in France and Britain, then went on to win the Breeders' Cup Mile in America. Her four-year-old campaign was highl ...
, Good Ba Ba,
Kingmambo Kingmambo (February 19, 1990 – January 20, 2016) was an American-bred, French-trained thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse and sire (horse), sire. Background He was sired by the leading stallion, Mr. Prospector, who in turn was a son of Raise ...
and East of the Moon. As a
yearling Yearling may refer to: *Yearling (horse), a horse between one and two years old *''The Yearling ''The Yearling'' is a novel by American writer Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, published in March 1938. It was the main selection of the Book of the ...
, the
filly A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use: *In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old. *In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States ...
was offered for sale at
Deauville Deauville () is a communes of France, commune in the Calvados (department), Calvados department, Normandy (administrative region), Normandy, northwestern France. Major attractions include its port, harbour, Race track, race course, marinas, con ...
and bought for
â‚£ The franc is any of various units of currency. One franc is typically divided into 100 centimes. The name is said to derive from the Latin inscription ''francorum rex'' (King of the Franks) used on early French coins and until the 18th century ...
180,000by representatives of the American
financier An investor is a person who allocates financial capital with the expectation of a future return (profit) or to gain an advantage (interest). Through this allocated capital the investor usually purchases some species of property. Types of in ...
George Ohrstrom. She was sent into training with John Cunnington and ridden in all her major races by Jean-Claude Desaint.


Racing career


1973: two-year-old season

Comtesse de Loir began her career as a racehorse by winning a race for newcomers over 1600 metres at
Longchamp Racecourse The Longchamp Racecourse (, ) is a 57 hectare horse-racing facility located on the Route des Tribunes at the Bois de Boulogne in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, 16th arrondissement of Paris, France. It is used for flat racing and is noted for ...
in September, beating Val Divine by one and a half lengths. On 7 October, the filly was moved up sharply in class to contest the
Group One Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern races, Pattern race sys ...
Critérium des Pouliches over the same course and distance. Ridden by Desaint she started at odds of 5.25/1 in a field of seventeen runners including challengers from Britain and Ireland. She had no chance with the winner Hippodamia but held on to take second ahead of La Tulipe and
Polygamy Polygamy (from Late Greek , "state of marriage to many spouses") is the practice of marriage, marrying multiple spouses. When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, it is called polygyny. When a woman is married to more tha ...
.


1974: three-year-old season

In her first two starts as a three-year-old, Comtesse de Loir finished fifth behind Paddy's Princess in the
Prix de la Grotte The Prix de la Grotte is a Group 3 flat horse race open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies in France. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Longchamp i ...
over 1600 metres at Longchamp and third behind Rose Bed in the Prix Chloé over 1800 metres at Évry. The filly was moved up in distance for the Group One Prix Saint Alary over 2000 metres at Longchamp on 26 May. Ridden by Desaint, she started a 16/1 outsider against thirteen opponents including Hippodamia, La Tulipe, Paddy's Princess, Rose Bed, Dumka (winner of the
Poule d'Essai des Pouliches The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) ...
) and Pale Ale (
Prix Penelope The Prix Penelope is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs) at S ...
). Comtesse de Loir was among the leaders from the start before taking the lead 400 metres from the finish (when she had "the race at her mercy") and went clear to win by two and a half lengths and three quarters of a length from Hippodamia and La Tulipe. Three weeks later, the filly started 9/2 favourite for the
Prix de Diane The Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks, is one of the most important and prestigious Group 1 horse races in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at C ...
over 2100 metres at
Chantilly Racecourse Chantilly Racecourse (In French: "Hippodrome de Chantilly") is a Thoroughbred grass, turf race track, racecourse for flat racing in Chantilly, Oise, France, about north of the centre of the city of Paris. Chantilly Racecourse is located in the ...
. Hippodamia, La Tulipe, Paddy's Princess, Rose Bed and Dumka were again in opposition as well as the
Irish 1000 Guineas The Irish 1,000 Guineas is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is schedule ...
winner Gaily, but her most serious rival in the betting was the British filly Highclere, the winner of the
1000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile ...
. Comtesse de Loir took a narrow lead 200 metres from the finish but was overtaken in the closing stages and finished second, two lengths behind Highclere, and half a length ahead of the 29/1 outsider Odisea. After a summer break, Comtesse de Loir returned for the Group One
Prix Vermeille The Prix Vermeille is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles) ...
over 2400 metres at Longchamp on 22 September in which she started second favourite behind
Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Leopold Wildenstein (11 September 1917 – 23 October 2001) was a French art dealer, historian and owner-breeder of thoroughbred and standardbred race horses. He was the third member of the family to preside over Wildenstein & Co., one of ...
's Paulista, a filly who had won the
Prix Minerve The Prix Minerve is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 2,500 metres (about 1 mile and 4½ furlongs), and it is scheduled t ...
,
Prix de Psyché The Prix de Psyché is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take p ...
and
Prix de la Nonette The Prix de la Nonette is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled t ...
. Comtesse de Loir looked fit to run before the race and finished strongly but proved no match for Paulista and was beaten into second place by four lengths. Two weeks later, over the same course and distance, the filly started a 53/1 outsider for the 53rd running of France's most prestigious race, the
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe () is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris over a distance ...
. Under a hard ride from Desaint, Comtesse de Loir produced a strong run in the straight to challenge the odds-on favourite
Allez France Allez France (24 May 1970 – 11 December 1989) was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Winner of the French 1000 Guineas, the French Oaks and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, she was one of the greatest-ever ...
in the last 100 metres. At the finishing post, Comtesse de Loir finished a head behind the older mare and clear of many notable performers including Paulista,
Sagaro Sagaro (1971–1986) was an Irish-bred, French-trained thoroughbred racehorse. He is regarded as one of the best stayers ever in Europe on the Flat. Background Sagaro was a chestnut horse bred by his owner Gerald Oldham, the Geneva-base ...
and Highclere. Timeform described her performance as "a revelation".


1975: four-year-old season

On her first appearance of 1975, the four-year-old Comtesse de Loir finished third behind Allez France and Card King in the
Prix Ganay The Prix Ganay is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs) at L ...
at Longchamp on 4 May, with Hurry Harriet and
Dahlia ''Dahlia'' ( , ) is a genus of bushy, tuberous, herbaceous perennial plants native to Mexico and Central America. Dahlias are members of the Asteraceae (synonym name: Compositae) family of dicotyledonous plants, its relatives include the sun ...
in fifth and sixth. She was then sent outside for France for the first time to contest the
Coronation Cup The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards ...
at
Epsom Downs Racecourse Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse in a hilly area near Epsom in Surrey, England which is used for thoroughbred horse racing. The "Downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course has a crowd capacity of 130,000 including ...
in June and finished fourth behind
Bustino Bustino (14 April 1971 – 2 October 1997) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career which lasted from August 1973 until July 1975, he ran nine times and won five races. He was the best British three-year-old of 1974, when his ...
,
Ashmore Ashmore is a village and civil parish in Dorset, England, southwest of Salisbury. There are grounds for believing Ashmore to be a Romano-British village which has survived without a break to the present day. The village is centred on a circ ...
and Mil's Bomb. She returned to France and finished fourth behind Un Kopeck in the
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is ...
, before recording her only success of the season in the Prix des Erables, a minor event over 2200 metres at Chantilly. After a two-month break, Comtesse de Loir returned for a second attempt at the Arc de Triomphe, and started at odds of 21/1 in a twenty-four runner field. Held up by Desaint until the straight, she took the lead from Nobiliary 300 metres from the finish but was overtaken in the closing stages and finished third, beaten three lengths and two and a half lengths by
Star Appeal Star Appeal (1970–1987) was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred and sire who won top-class races in four countries. In 1975, he became the first German-trained racehorse to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Racing career Star Appeal was initially ...
and On My Way. As in the previous year, she had many top class horses behind her including Allez France, Dahlia,
Bruni Bruni can refer to: * Bruni (surname) * Bruni, Texas * Bruni (horse), an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse * Bruni Olympic .380 BBM blank firing revolver * a character from ''Frozen 2'' See also * Brunei Brunei, officially Brunei Daruss ...
, Card King and
Green Dancer Green Dancer (14 April 1972 – 5 December 2000) was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. A son of the British Tiple Crown winner Nijinsky, he won the French 2000 Guineas in 1975. Later he became a very successful sire. B ...
. For her last two races, Comtesse de Loir was sent to compete in North America. In late October she ran in the
Canadian International Stakes The Canadian International Stakes is a Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses from three years of age and upwards on Turf. It is held annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The current purse is . History The Cana ...
at Woodbine Racecourse in
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
and finished second, beaten half a length by the 1974
Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes, more commonly known as the Derby and sometimes referred to as the Epsom Derby, is a Group races, Group 1 flat Horse racing, horse race in England open to three-year-old Colt (horse), colts and Filly, fillies. It is run at Ep ...
winner
Snow Knight Snow Knight (28 February 1971 – 15 September 1992) was a Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a three-year-old in 1974, he won Britain's most prestigious race, the Derby, then the following year earned an Eclipse Award as the American Champion ...
, who went on to be voted
American Champion Male Turf Horse The American Champion Male Turf Horse award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor. The award originated in 1953 when the ''Daily Racing Form'' (DRF) named Iceberg II their champion. The Thoroughbred Racing Association (TRA) added the cat ...
. The filly's last race was the Washington, D.C. International over one and a half miles at
Laurel Park Racecourse Laurel Park, formerly Laurel Race Course, is an American thoroughbred racetrack located just outside Laurel, Maryland which opened in 1911. The track is miles in circumference. Its name was changed to "Laurel Race Course" for several decades un ...
in which she was opposed by Snow Knight, Dahlia, Nobiliary, Star Appeal and On My Way. Held up by Desaint in the early stages, he produced her usual strong run in the straight but failed to overhaul Nobiliary and finished second, beaten three quarters of a length.


Assessment

There was no International Classification of European two-year-olds in 1973: the official handicappers of Britain, Ireland and France compiled separate rankings for horses which competed in those countries. In the French Free Handicap, Comtesse de Loir was rated the fourth best filly of the season, six pounds behind Hippodamia. The independent Timeform organisation gave her a rating of 117, thirteen pounds inferior to their top-rated two-year-old filly Hippodamia. In 1974, Comtesse de Loir was given a rating of 131 by Timeform, making her their highest-rated three-year-old filly of the season, one pound ahead of Paulista and two ahead of Highclere and the joint-highest-rated three-year-old of either sex, the equal of the colts Sagaro,
Nonoalco Nonoalco (1971–1992) was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He won 2000 Guineas in 1974. Background He was out of the mare Seximee, a daughter of the 1954 Preakness Stakes winner Hasty Road. His sire was the very impor ...
, Dankaro (
Prix Lupin The Prix Lupin was a Conditions races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred Colt (horse), colts and Filly, fillies. It was run at Longchamp Racecourse, Longchamp over a distance of 2,100 m ...
) and Caracolero (
Prix du Jockey Club The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Chantilly ov ...
). In the official French handicap she was rated the best three-year-old of either sex, a pound ahead of Caracolero and Dankaro. As a four-year-old, Comtesse de Loir was rated 130 by Timeform, three pounds behind their top-rated older female Lianga. In the official French handicap, she was rated the second-best older female, seven pounds behind Allez France, and a pound ahead of Dahlia. In their annual ''Racehorses of 1975'', Timeform described her as a "very genuine and consistent" filly who "never got the big win that her admirable consistency deserved".


Breeding record

Comtesse de Loir was retired from racing to become a broodmare at her owners stud in the United States. Between 1977 and 1993 she produced at least seven foals and three winners, by far the best of which was the filly Heron Cove. Her foals included: * Noblesse de Loir, a chestnut filly, foaled in 1977, sired by Forli, won one race. * Altesse de Loir, brown filly, 1978, by
Vaguely Noble Vaguely Noble (1965–1989) was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in the United Kingdom and France. The colt is best known as the winner of the 1968 Group One Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when he defeated the best horses from Engla ...
, failed to win. * Kazatska, brown filly, 1979, by Nijinsky, unraced * Heron Cove, bay filly, 1980, by
Bold Bidder Bold Bidder (March 22, 1962–1982) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse. Background Bred by the Wheatley Stable partnership of Gladys Mills Phipps and her brother, Ogden L. Mills, Bold Bidder was sired by their great Stallion (h ...
, won four races including the
Long Island Handicap The Long Island Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in November at Aqueduct Racetrack, in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. The race is for fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race the one and one-half miles on the ...
. * Yggdrasil, bay filly, 1988, by
Riverman Riverman (22 March 1969 – 31 July 1999) was a French Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse and highly successful sire. Background Foaled in Kentucky, Riverman was bred by Harry F. Guggenheim of the prominent American Guggenheim family. He w ...
, unraced. * Bataan, bay colt, 1991, by
Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
, won once from thirty-nine races. * Tarkheena, bay filly, 1993, by
Alleged In law, an allegation is a claim of an unproven fact by a party in a pleading, charge, or defense. Until they can be proved, allegations remain merely assertions. Types of allegations Marital allegations There are also marital allegations: ma ...
, unraced.


Pedigree


References

{{reflist 1971 racehorse births Racehorses bred in France Racehorses trained in France Thoroughbred family 20