The Prix Penelope 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 ...
fillies. It is run over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs) 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 ...
in March or April.
History
The event is named after two different horses called Penelope – a leading
British broodmare foaled in 1798, and the winner of the Prix Royal foaled in 1820.
The Prix Penelope was established in 1905, and it was originally staged 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 ...
. It was initially contested over 2,000 metres.
The race was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1919. It was held at Saint-Cloud in 1921,
and moved there more permanently in 1927.
The Prix Penelope took place at
Longchamp from 1940 to 1942, and switched to Maisons-Laffitte in 1943. It was extended to 2,100 metres in 1944. It returned to Saint-Cloud and reverted to 2,000 metres in 1946. It was restored to 2,100 metres in 1950.
The present race grading system was introduced in 1971, and the Prix Penelope was subsequently classed at Group 3 level.
The Prix Penelope can serve as a trial 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 ...
. The last horse to win both events was
Pawneese in 1976.
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 ...
(5 wins):
*
George Stern
Georges Stern (29 Sep 1883 – October 28, 1928), nicknamed "The King of the Derbies"and "King of the Jockeys", was France’s most famous jockey in the early part of the 20th century. Besides France, he also rode in England.
Stern was born in Cha ...
– ''Muskerry (1905), Sais (1906), Roselys (1914), Samic (1921), Zariba (1922)''
*
Rae Johnstone – ''La Futaie (1940), Sylphide (1947), Corseira (1950), Arbele (1952), Sun Cap (1954)''
*
Thierry Jarnet
Thierry Jarnet (born 24 March 1967) is a champion thoroughbred flat racing jockey in France who won the title four times between 1992–1995. Jarnet was first apprenticed to Patrick Rago at Maisons-Laffitte and then to Yann Porzier at Chant ...
– ''Madame Est Sortie (1988), Wemyss Bight (1993), Diamond Dance (1994), Tulipa (1996), La Sylphide (1999)''
----
Leading
trainer (10 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 ...
– ''Trampoli (1992), Wemyss Bight (1993), Diamond Dance (1994), Muncie (1995), Tulipa (1996), Gagnoa (2008), Waldlerche (2012), Philomene (2021), Agave (2022), Pensee Du Jour (2023)''
----
Leading owner (10 wins):
*
Marcel Boussac
Marcel Boussac (17 April 1889 – 21 March 1980) was a French entrepreneur best known for his ownership of the Maison Dior and one of the most successful thoroughbred race horse breeding farms in European history.
Born in Châteauroux, Indre, ...
– ''Samic (1921), Zariba (1922), Diademe (1930), Canzoni (1939), Esmeralda (1942), Corseira (1950), Arbele (1952), Adarca (1953), Janiari (1956), Demia (1977)''
Winners since 1981
Earlier winners
* 1905: Muskerry
* 1906: Sais
* 1907: All Mine
* 1908: Scarlet
* 1909: Pierre Benite
* 1910: Madeleine
* 1911: La Becasse
* 1912: Mongolie
* 1913: Sweetness
* 1914: Roselys
* 1915–19: ''no race''
* 1920: Flowershop
* 1921: Samic
* 1922: Zariba
* 1923: Fiasque
* 1924: Isola Bella
* 1925: Gandourah
* 1926: Briseis
* 1927: Carmelite
* 1928: Tanais
* 1929: Tour Eiffel
* 1930: Diademe
* 1931:
Brulette
* 1932: Incessu Patuit
* 1933: Bipearl
* 1934: Rarity
* 1935: Clairvoyante
* 1936: Royalebuchy
* 1937: Sylvanire
* 1938: Feerie
* 1939: Canzoni
* 1940: La Futaie
* 1941: Longthanh
* 1942: Esmeralda
* 1943: Folle Nuit
* 1944: Chambriere
* 1945: Raita
* 1946: Pirette
* 1947: Sylphide
* 1948: Princesse Kara
* 1949: Cretonne
* 1950: Corseira
* 1951: Simonetta
* 1952: Arbele
* 1953: Adarca
* 1954:
Sun Cap
* 1955: Senones
* 1956: Janiari
* 1957: Piriere
* 1958: Dushka
* 1959: Favreale / Ma Princesse
* 1960: Timandra
* 1961: Hermieres
* 1962:
Monade
* 1963: Maintenon
* 1964: Carolle II
* 1965: Cassette
* 1966: Kaliopi
* 1967: Straight On
* 1968: Roseliere
* 1969: Saraca
* 1970: Hether
* 1971: Cigaline
* 1972: Rescousse
* 1973: Brave Ketty
* 1974: Pale Ale
* 1975: Petit Monstre
* 1976:
Pawneese
* 1977: Demia
* 1978: Tempus Fugit
* 1979: Saloon
* 1980: Good to Beat
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 which currently hold Group 1 Group 1 may refer to:
* Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for ...
References
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*
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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* galop.courses-france.com:
*
1905–19191920–19491950–19791980–present
– ''A Brief History: Prix Pénélope.''
galopp-sieger.de
– ''Prix Penelope.''
ifhaonline.org
– ''International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Penelope (2019).''
pedigreequery.com
– ''Prix Penelope – Saint-Cloud.''
Flat horse races for three-year-old fillies
Saint-Cloud Racecourse
Horse races in France
1905 establishments in France
Horse races established in 1905