Prix Lupin

The Prix Lupin was a Group 1 flat horse race in France which was open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It was run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs), and it was scheduled to take place each year in May.

History

The event was established in 1855, and it was originally called the Prix de l'Empereur. It was initially held at the Champ de Mars, and it was transferred to Longchamp in 1857. It was not run in 1871 because of the Franco-Prussian War. Its title was changed to the Grande Poule des Produits in 1872.

It was one of several races which were collectively known as the Poules des Produits. These were the key trials for the Prix du Jockey Club which were introduced by the Société d'Encouragement in the 19th century. The other events (listed by their modern titles) were the Prix Noailles, the Prix Daru, the Prix Hocquart and the Prix Greffulhe. Unlike the other races, the Grande Poule des Produits had no specific conditions of qualification. The others had restrictions based on the nationality of a horse's sire or dam.

The race was given a new name, the Prix Lupin, in 1896. This was in memory of Auguste Lupin (1807–1895), a successful racehorse owner and breeder in France. Lupin owned six winners of the Prix du Jockey Club and six of the Prix de Diane. He also owned four winners of this event – Isolier, Dollar, Almanza and Xaintrailles.

The Prix Lupin was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1918. It was cancelled once during World War II, in 1940. It was temporarily switched to Le Tremblay in 1943 and Maisons-Laffitte in 1944. Its distance at Le Tremblay was 2,150 metres.

When the present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, the Prix Lupin was classed at the highest level, Group 1. It was discontinued in 2005 as a result of a restructured program for three-year-olds in France.

Records

Leading jockey (7 wins):

• George Stern – Saxon (1901), Ajax (1904), Genial (1905), Floraison (1912), Insensible (1919), Ksar (1921), Irismond (1924)

Leading trainer (7 wins):

• Tom Jennings, Sr. – Mademoiselle de Chantilly (1857), Union Jack (1859), Le Mandarin (1865), Trocadero (1867), Braconnier (1876), Clementine (1878), Leon (1881)

Leading owner (7 wins):

• Frédéric de Lagrange – Mademoiselle de Chantilly (1857), Union Jack (1859), Le Mandarin (1865), Trocadero (1867), Braconnier (1876), Clementine (1878), Leon (1881)
• Edmond Blanc – Soukaras (1883), Gouverneur (1891), Gouvernail (1894), Saxon (1901), Caius (1903), Ajax (1904), Genial (1905)
• Edouard A. de Rothschild – Sans Souci (1907), Floraison (1912), Le Farina (1914), Bubbles (1928), Brantome (1934), Aromate (1935), Bacchus (1939)
• Marcel Boussac – Irismond (1924), Tourbillon (1931), Ardan (1944), Djelal (1947), Ambiorix (1949), Dankaro (1974), Acamas (1978)

Winners 1969–2004

Earlier winners

References

• France Galop / Racing Post:
  • 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988
  • 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
  • 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
• galop.courses-france.com:
  • 1855–1859, 1860–1889, 1890–1919, 1920–1949, 1950–1979, 1980–2004

• galopp-sieger.de – Prix Lupin (ex Prix de l'Empereur / Grande Poule des Produits).
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Lupin (2004).
• pedigreequery.com – Prix Lupin – Longchamp.

See also

• List of French flat horse races
• Recurring events established in 1855 – the Prix Lupin is included under its original title, Prix de l'Empereur.