The Prix Eclipse is a
Group 3 Group 3 may refer to:
*Group 3 element, chemical element classification
*Group 3 (racing), FIA classification for auto racing
* Group 3, the third tier of races in worldwide Thoroughbred horse racing
* Group 3 image format, Group 3 & Group 4 are ...
flat horse race
Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, 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 basic p ...
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 over a distance of 1,200 metres (about 6 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.
History
The event is named after the 18th-century racehorse
Eclipse
An eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when an astronomical object or spacecraft is temporarily obscured, by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer. This alignment of three ce ...
. It was established in 1891, and was originally contested 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-Laffi ...
over 1,200 metres. It was extended to 1,400 metres in 1905, and to 1,600 metres in 1908.
The race was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1914 to 1918. It was run over 1,500 metres in 1919. It was transferred to
Saint-Cloud
Saint-Cloud () is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France, from the centre of Paris. Like other communes of Hauts-de-Seine such as Marnes-la-Coquette, Neuilly-sur-Seine and Vaucresson, Saint-Cloud is one of France's wealthiest to ...
and cut to 1,300 metres in 1920. It returned to Maisons-Laffitte in 1923, and reverted to 1,200 metres in 1925.
Due to World War II, the Prix Eclipse was cancelled from 1939 to 1944. It resumed at Saint-Cloud with a distance of 1,500 metres in 1945. It was contested over 1,200 metres in 1946, and 1,600 metres in 1947. A new period over 1,200 metres began in 1948.
The race was run over 1,300 metres at Maisons-Laffitte in 1954. It returned to its previous length at Saint-Cloud in 1955. It was restored to 1,300 metres in 1966.
The Prix Eclipse was staged at
Deauville
Deauville () is a commune in the Calvados department, Normandy, northwestern France. Major attractions include its harbour, race course, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino, and sumptuous hotels. The first Deauville Asian Film F ...
from 1994 to 1996, and Saint-Cloud from 1997 to 2000. It was switched to Maisons-Laffitte and shortened to 1,200 metres in 2001.
In recent years, the race has had spells at Maisons-Laffitte (2001–03, 2005, 2010–11, 2016) and Chantilly (2004, 2006–09, 2012–2015).
Records
Leading
jockey (4 wins):
* Léon Flavien – ''Ara (1956), Megare (1958), Bondolfi (1959), Belmont (1969)''
*
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 succe ...
– ''Prompt (1965), Targowice (1972), Aerosol (1976), Breath Taking (1984)''
----
Leading
trainer (6 wins):
* William Webb – ''Tournesol (1892), Beatrix (1894), Croix du Sud (1900), La Lorelei (1901), Zingara (1903), Ossian (1908)''
----
Leading owner (5 wins):
* Edmond Blanc – ''Rueil (1891), Manitou (1897), Adam (1904), Belle Fleur (1905), Sloughi (1913)''
Winners since 1978
The 2004 winner ''Tremar'' was later exported to Hong Kong and renamed ''Imperial Applause''.
Earlier winners
* 1891: Rueil
* 1892: Tournesol
* 1893: Melchior
* 1894: Beatrix
* 1895: Olmutz
* 1896: Magister
* 1897: Manitou
* 1898: Listo
* 1899: Agathos
* 1900: Croix du Sud
* 1901: La Loreley
* 1902: Rafale
* 1903: Zingara
* 1904: Adam
* 1905: Belle Fleur
* 1906: Muscadet
* 1907: Lamaneur
* 1908: Ossian
* 1909: M'Amour
* 1910: Alcantara
* 1911: Rodriguez
* 1912: Sans le Sou
* 1913: Sloughi
* 1914–18: ''no race''
* 1919: Campistron
* 1920: Cortland
* 1921: Frisky
* 1922:
Sir Gallahad
Sir Gallahad (1920–1949) was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and an extremely important sire in the United States.
Racing career
Racing at age two in France for his British breeder/owner, Jefferson Davis Cohn, Sir Gallahad earned victory in ...
* 1923: Tonton
* 1924: Coram
* 1925: Asterus
* 1926: Basilisque
* 1927: Cestona
* 1928: Touchaud
* 1929: Monsieur Loyal
* 1930: Alluvial
* 1931: Present
* 1932: Pampilhosa
* 1933: Rentenmark
* 1934: Le Gazon
* 1935: Alcali
* 1936: Le Chari
* 1937: Salieri
* 1938: Birikil
* 1939–44: ''no race''
* 1945: Carrousel
* 1946: Djama
* 1947:
* 1948: Gismonda
* 1949: Major Morgane
* 1950: Astrild
* 1951:
* 1952: Arzetto
* 1953: Prudence
* 1954: Fakahina
* 1955: Vareta
* 1956: Ara
* 1957: Naharo
* 1958: Megare
* 1959: Bondolfi
* 1960: Moskova
* 1961: Prince Altana
* 1962:
* 1963: Belle Sicambre
* 1964: Radames
* 1965: Prompt
* 1966: Ascanio
* 1967: Cabhurst
* 1968: Oris
* 1969: Belmont
* 1970: Stratege
* 1971: Pompous
* 1972:
Targowice
Targowice (10 April 1970 – 2 April 1992) was an American-bred and French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old, he was undefeated in three races including the Prix Eclipse and Prix Thomas Bryon, and was rated the best ...
* 1973:
Northern Taste
* 1974: Prince Show
* 1975: Roan Star
* 1976: Aerosol
* 1977: Binky
See also
*
List of French flat horse races
A list of notable flat horse races which take place annually in France, under the authority of France Galop, including all conditions races
Conditions races are horse races in which the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the condi ...
References
*
France Galop
France Galop is the governing body of flat and steeplechase horse racing in France. It was founded on May 3, 1995, as the result of the amalgamation of four different industry organizations. Prominent owner/breeder Jean-Luc Lagardère was elected t ...
/
Racing Post
''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing and sports betting publisher which is published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of ...
:
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france-galop.com– ''A Brief History: Prix Eclipse.''
galopp-sieger.de– ''Prix Eclipse.''
horseracingintfed.com– ''International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Eclipse (2016).''
pedigreequery.com– ''Prix Eclipse.''
Flat horse races for two-year-olds
Chantilly Racecourse
Horse races in France
Recurring sporting events established in 1891