The Prix du Lys is a
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flat horse race
Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...
in France open to three-year-old
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 ...
colts and
gelding
A gelding (Help:IPA/English, /ˈɡɛldɪŋ/) is a castration, castrated male horse or other equine, such as a pony, donkey or a mule. The term is also used with certain other animals and livestock, such as domesticated Camelidae, camels. By compa ...
s. 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 May.
History
The event is named after Le Lys, a small forest close to Chantilly on the left bank of the
Oise
Oise ( ; ; ) is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise. Inhabitants of the department are called ''Oisiens'' () or ''Isariens'', after the Latin name for the river, Isara. It had a population of 829,419 in 2019.< ...
river. It was established in 1922, and was originally open to colts and fillies, but not geldings. Its distance was 2,400 metres. It was initially restricted to horses not entered for the
Prix du Jockey Club or the
Prix de Diane.
The Prix du Lys was cancelled in 1940, and was held at
Longchamp in 1941 and 1942. It was run at
Le Tremblay over 2,300 metres in 1943 and 1944, and at Longchamp again for three years thereafter.
The exclusion of Prix du Jockey Club and Prix de Diane entrants ended in 1970. The race was closed to fillies and opened to geldings in 1986.
The Prix du Lys was contested over 2,800 metres at
Saint-Cloud from 1993 to 1996. In the following years it was run over 2,600 metres at
Maisons-Laffitte
Maisons-Laffitte () is a Communes of France, commune in the Yvelines Departments of France, department in the northern Île-de-France Regions of France, region of France. It is a part of the affluent outer suburbs of northwestern Paris, from its ...
(1997–98) and Chantilly (1999–2000).
The race's original distance was restored in 2001, and from this point it was staged at Longchamp. It returned to Chantilly in 2009 and was run there until 2016. In 2017 it was run at Saint-Cloud and since 2018 it has been staged at Longchamp again. It is currently held on the same day as the Prix d'Ispahan and Prix Saint-Alary.
Records
Leading
jockey
A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...
(6 wins):
*
Roger Poincelet – ''Djelal (1947), Mistralor (1954), Jithaka (1956), Rugby (1962), Nasram (1963), Steady (1967)''
*
Freddy Head
Frédéric Head (born 19 June 1947) is a retired horse trainer and champion jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. His grandfather, William Head, and father, Alec Head, who also competed as prominent jockeys and trainers, raised “Freddy,” at th ...
– ''Mazarin (1969), Azorello (1973), Ercolano (1977), Fabulous Dancer (1979), Bellman (1981), Iris Noir (1984)''
----
Leading
trainer (15 wins):
*
André Fabre – ''Iris Noir (1984), Luth Dancer (1987), Northern Spur (1994), Swain (1995), Vertical Speed (1997), Epistolaire (1998), Morozov (2002), Doyen (2003), Desideratum (2005), Rail Link (2006), Airmail Special (2007), Claremont (2009), Goldwaki (2010), Kreem (2011), Flintshire (2013)''
----
Leading owner (6 wins):
*
Sheikh Mohammed – ''Swain (1995), Morozov (2002), Doyen (2003), Desideratum (2005), Airmail Special (2007), Claremont (2009)''
Winners since 1979
Earlier winners
* 1922: Mazeppa
* 1923: Grand Guignol
* 1924: Scaramouche
* 1925: Chubasco
* 1926: Felton
* 1927: Sachet
* 1928: Bachelier
* 1929: Double Dutch
* 1930: Menthol
* 1931: Triberg
* 1932: Satrap
* 1933: Magnus
* 1934: Verset
* 1935: Will of the Wisp
* 1936: Fantastic
* 1937: Khasnadar
* 1938: Molitor
* 1939: Shrift
* 1940: ''no race''
* 1941: Nepenthe
* 1942:
* 1943: Bambou
* 1944: Orsava
* 1945: Kerlor
* 1946: Eclair
* 1947: Djelal
* 1948: Espace Vital
* 1949: Urfe
* 1950: Alizier
* 1951: Pharas
* 1952: Orfeo
* 1953: Sunny Dream
* 1954: Mistralor
* 1955: Fauchelevent
* 1956: Jithaka
* 1957: Mehdi
* 1958: Upstart
* 1959: Memorandum
* 1960: Tehuelche
* 1961: Le Bois Sacre
* 1962: Rugby
* 1963:
Nasram
* 1964: Trade Mark
* 1965:
* 1966: Danseur
* 1967: Steady
* 1968:
Vaguely Noble
* 1969: Mazarin
* 1970: High Game
* 1971: Music Man
* 1972: Hair Do
* 1973: Azorello
* 1974: Blue Diamond
* 1975: Corby
* 1976:
Exceller
* 1977: Ercolano
* 1978: Nizon
See also
*
List of French flat horse races
References
External links
*
France Galop /
Racing Post
''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing, and sports betting publisher published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of 60,629 ...
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france-galop.com– ''A Brief History: Prix du Lys.''
galop.courses-france.com– ''Prix du Lys – Palmarès depuis 1980.''
galopp-sieger.de– ''Prix du Lys.''
ifhaonline.org– ''International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix du Lys (2019).''
pedigreequery.com– ''Prix du Lys.''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prix Lys
Flat horse races for three-year-olds
Longchamp Racecourse
Horse races in France
Horse races established in 1922
1922 establishments in France