The Prix Messidor 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

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s aged three years or older. It is run 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 ...

over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.

History

The event was established in 1949, and it was originally held at

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 ...

. It was initially called the Prix de Messidor, a name derived from ''messis'', the Latin word for "harvest". The present title, without the "''de''", was introduced in 1955. For a period the race was switched between Maisons-Laffitte (1963–65, 1968–69) and Saint-Cloud (1966–67, 1970–72). It began a longer spell at Maisons-Laffitte in 1973. The race was transferred to

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 1997. It returned to Maisons-Laffitte in 2005.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins): * Catilina – ''1962, 1963'' ---- Leading

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(6 wins): *

Yves Saint-Martin Yves Saint-Martin (born 8 September 1941 in Agen, Lot-et-Garonne, France) is a retired champion jockey in French Thoroughbred horse race, Thoroughbred horse racing. He is widely considered one of the greatest riders in French racing history. ...

– ''Catilina (1962, 1963), Cripton (1964), Irish Minstrel (1969), Tassmoun (1980), Ya Zaman (1981)'' ---- Leading trainer (13 wins): * André Fabre – ''Mille Balles (1984), Fitzwilliam Place (1987), Mill Native (1988), Polish Precedent (1989), Acteur Francais (1991), Fanmore (1993), Neuilly (1997), Dansili (1999), Valixir (2005), Intello (2013), Fractional (2015), Vadamos (2016), Impulsif (2019)'' ---- Leading owner (4 wins): *

Aga Khan IV Prince Karim al-Husseini (13 December 1936 – 4 February 2025), known as the Aga Khan IV, was the 49th Imamah, imam of Imamate in Nizari doctrine, Nizari Isma'ilism from 1957 until his death in 2025. He inherited the Imamate in Nizari doctrine ...

– ''Cripton (1964), Tassmoun (1980), Valixir (2005), Alnadana (2009)''

Winners since 1978

The 2019 running moved to

during unsafely track.
The 2021 running moved to Chantilly due to the closure of

.
The 2022 running moved to Chantilly due to the closure of

The 2023 running moved to Chantilly due to the closure of

Earlier winners

* 1949: Beverly * 1950: Philactis * 1951: * 1952: ''no race'' * 1953: Pomare * 1954: Phlox * 1955: Chargeur * 1956: Cigalon * 1957–59: ''no race'' * 1960: Fin Bec * 1961: Pen Mane * 1962: Catilina * 1963: Catilina * 1964: Cripton * 1965: Red Slipper * 1966: Agy * 1967: Morris Dancer * 1968: Fisc * 1969: Irish Minstrel * 1970: Brabant * 1971: Joshua * 1972: Arosa * 1973: Martinmas * 1974: El Toro * 1975: Son of Silver * 1976: Dona Barod * 1977: Malecite

References

* 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 ...

: ** , , , , , , , , , ** , , , , , , , , , ** , , , , , , , , , ** , , , , , , , , , ** , , , {{Racing Post, 845613, 2023, 07, 16, 204, chantilly ----
france-galop.com
– ''A Brief History: Prix Messidor.''
galop.courses-france.com
– ''Prix Messidor – Palmarès depuis 1980.''
galopp-sieger.de
– ''Prix Messidor.''
horseracingintfed.com
– ''International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Messidor (2016).''
pedigreequery.com
– ''Prix Messidor.'' Open mile category horse races Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse Horse races in France

History

Records

Winners since 1978

Earlier winners

See also

References