Wertheimer et Frère is a

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 ...

horse racing 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 ...

and

breeding Breeding is sexual reproduction that produces offspring, usually animals or plants. It can only occur between a male and a female animal or plant. Breeding may refer to: * Animal husbandry, through selected specimens such as dogs, horses, and rab ...

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 and the horse racing business from their father Jacques who had inherited a racing stable from his parents Pierre and Germaine Wertheimer. The brothers operate as La Presle Farm and/or Wertheimer Farm in the United States and in France as Wertheimer et Frère where they have won numerous important Conditions races. Alec Head trained for the family in Europe until his retirement in 1984 but for a number of years continued to act as their bloodstock advisor. Head's daughter Christiane "Criquette" Head took over as trainer in 1983 and continued to have great success until they ended their working relationship in 2006. In the United States, the Wertheimer brothers won the 1993 Breeders' Cup Turf and earned

American Horse of the Year The American Award for Horse of the Year, or simply Horse of the Year, one of the Eclipse Awards, is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. Because Thoroughbred horse racing in the United States has no governing body to san ...

honors with Kotashaan. In 2003, they won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies with Halfbridled. Both horses were trained by Richard Mandella. In 2008, 2009, and 2010, their filly Goldikova won the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile, becoming the only horse to ever win a Breeders' Cup event three times. In 2011, Goldikova competed in the event for a fourth consecutive year, finishing 3rd. Goldikova was trained by

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 ...

who is the son of Alec Head and Criquette's brother.

Racing background

An interest in racing goes back two generations in a family which has been responsible for the development of a number of top stallions, including Lyphard, Riverman and Green Dancer ... Alain and Gerard's grandfather, Pierre, was a bastion of the European turf, winning English classics such as the 1956 Epsom Derby. His death in 1965 saw the famous blue and white silks passed on to his widow, who was France's leading owner in 1972, and when she died in 1974, on again to Jacques ... Father Jacques Wertheimer was champion owner in his first full season, sweeping the 1975 French 1,000 Guineas, 2,000 Guineas and Prix du Jockey-Club with Ivanjica, Green Dancer and Val de L’Orne. Ivanjica went on to win the 1976 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe, an event which fell to Wertheimer again in 1981, courtesy of another filly, Gold River, who had won the Prix Royal Oak (French St Leger) the previous year Selected

Group One Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern races, Pattern race sys ...

race wins: * Breeders' Cup Turf : Kotashaan (1993) * Critérium de Saint-Cloud : Special Quest (1997), Goldamix (2000) * Prix du Jockey Club : Intello (2013) * Prix Marcel Boussac : Juvenia (1998) * Prix Saint-Alary : Fidélité (2003) * Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies : Halfbridled (2003) *

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe () is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris over a distance ...

: Solemia (2012)

References

ESPN article on the 2003 Breeders' Cup
French racehorse owners and breeders Horse farms in France French business families Owners of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winners Wertheimer family {{horseracing-stub