The Prix La Force is a Group 3 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 ...

s. It is run over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles) at Longchamp in April.

History

The event is named in memory of the

Duc de La Force The title of Duke of La Force, Peerage of France, Peer of France, in the peerage of France, was created in 1637 for members of the Caumont family, who were lords of the village of La Force, Dordogne, La Force in the Dordogne region. The family ori ...

, Bertrand Nompar de Caumont (1840–1909), a member of the Société d'Encouragement. It was established in 1910, and was initially open to horses aged three or four. Its original distance was 2,200 metres. It was later opened to older horses. The Prix La Force was restricted to three-year-olds in 1950. From this point it was contested over 2,000 metres. For brief spells thereafter it was run over 2,200 metres (1956–58), 2,000 metres (1959–60), 2,400 metres (1961–63) and 2,600 metres (1964–65). It reverted to 2,000 metres in 1966. The race was staged at

Chantilly Chantilly may refer to: Places France *Chantilly, Oise, a city ** US Chantilly, a football club *Château de Chantilly United States * Chantilly, Missouri, an unincorporated community * Chantilly (Charlotte neighborhood), North Carolina ...

in 1995 and

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 ...

in 1996. It was run over 2,400 metres at Longchamp from 1997 to 2000. It was subsequently contested over 2,000 metres at Chantilly (2001–02) and

Saint-Cloud Saint-Cloud () is a French 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 wealthie ...

(2003–04). The event returned to Longchamp in 2005. It was temporarily increased to 2,100 metres in 2011. It was closed to fillies from the 2017 running. The Prix La Force can serve as a trial for the

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 ...

. The last horse to win both races was Saonois in 2012.

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 ...

since 1950 (7 wins): *

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 ...

– ''Cadmus (1966), Mazarin (1969), Orante (1975), Fabulous Dancer (1979), Truculent (1984), Louis Le Grand (1985), Val des Bois (1989)'' ---- Leading trainer since 1950 (9 wins): *

André Fabre André Fabre (; born 9 December 1945) is a French thoroughbred horse racing horse trainer, trainer. The son of a diplomat, Fabre graduated from university with a law degree but then decided to pursue a career in thoroughbred horse racing. He beg ...

– ''Al Nasr (1981), Sifting Gold (1990), Radevore (1996), Magellano (1997), Simon de Montfort (2010), Triple Threat (2013), Cloth Of Stars (2016), Graphite (2017), Cualificar (2025)'' ---- Leading owner since 1950 (4 wins): *

Jacques Wertheimer Jacques Guy Wertheimer (18 August 1911 – 6 February 1996) was a prominent French businessman who inherited and ran the renowned House of Chanel perfume company. Wertheimer was born at Les Forgettes villa in Deauville, to a Jewish family,

– ''Orante (1975), Truculent (1984), Val des Bois (1989), Kotashaan (1991)'' *

Wertheimer et Frère Wertheimer et Frère is a Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding business partnership between brothers Alain and Gérard Wertheimer of France. The Wertheimer brothers are the owners of the House of Chanel in Paris. They inherited that company an ...

- ''Shaman (2019), Pao Alto (2020), Adhamo (2021), Atlast (2024)'' * Godolphin SNC - ''Simon de Montfort (2010), Cloth Of Stars (2016), Graphite (2017), Cualificar (2025)''

Winners since 1978

Earlier winners

* 1910:

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* 1911: Matchless * 1912: Basse Pointe * 1913: Amadou * 1914: Ecouen * 1919: Le Dragon * 1920: Cid Campeador * 1921: Sourbier * 1922: Zagreus * 1923: Saint Hubert * 1924: Premontre * 1925: Cadum * 1926: Ptolemy * 1927: Javelot * 1928: Rialto * 1929: Bubbles * 1931: Roi de Trefle * 1932: Filarete * 1936: Quai d'Orsay * 1937: Gonfalonier * 1941: Manjano * 1942: Pampre d'Or * 1943: Escamillo * 1950: Alizier * 1951: * 1952: Aram * 1953: Semillant * 1954: Malatesta * 1955: * 1956: Fastfol * 1957: Flush Royal II * 1958: Currito * 1959: Colisee / Simono * * 1960: Puissant Chef * 1961: Okay II * 1962: * 1963: * 1964: Silfric * 1965: Principino * 1966: Cadmus * 1967: Topyo * 1968: Abgal * 1969: Mazarin * 1970:

Sassafras ''Sassafras'' is a genus of three extant and one extinct species of deciduous trees in the family Lauraceae, native to eastern North America and eastern Asia.Wolfe, Jack A. & Wehr, Wesley C. 1987. The sassafras is an ornamental tree. "Middle Eo ...

* 1971: * 1972: Sanur * 1973: Verkade * 1974: Un Kopeck * 1975: Orante * 1976:

Malacate Malacate (foaled 18 April 1973) was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed some promise as a two-year-old in 1975, before emerging as one of the leading colts of his generation in Europe in the following yea ...

* 1977: Olantengy * The 1959 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.

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 ...

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 ...

: ** , , , , , , , , , ** , , , , , , , , , ** , , , , , , , , , ** , , , , , , , , ** , , , , , , {{Racing Post, 892361, 2025, 04, 06, 211
france-galop.com
– ''A Brief History: Prix La Force.''
galop.courses-france.com
– ''Prix La Force – Palmarès depuis 1980.''
galopp-sieger.de
– ''Prix La Force.''
horseracingintfed.com
– ''International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix La Force (2019).''
pedigreequery.com
– ''Prix La Force – Longchamp.'' Flat horse races for three-year-olds Longchamp Racecourse Horse races in France 1910 establishments in France Recurring sporting events established in 1910

History

Records

Winners since 1978

Earlier winners

See also

References