The Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp
is an annual French Grade 1 flat horse race for thoroughbred horses two
years and older. It is raced over turf in early October over a distance
of 1000m at the historical Longchamp Racecourse located on the banks of
the Seine River in Paris. It carries a purse of 250,000 euros.
The Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp was inaugurated in 1957 with the Prix
du Moulin to celebrate Longchamp Racecourse's 100th anniversary. While
the Prix du Moulin is now run in September, the Prix de l'Abbaye de
Longchamp is still raced on the same day as France's biggest race, the
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp was
named after the Abbaye de Longchamp, a 13th century abbey that once
overshadowed the northern part of what is now Longchamp Racecourse. In
1971 the Prix de l'Abbaye was awarded a Grade 2 classification which was
upgraded to Grade 1 in 1976.
As a 1000m race, the Prix de
l'Abbaye de Longchamp has always attracted the top French (and indeed
foreign) sprinters. In fact, since 1980 only three French horses have
won the auspicious race which includes 1996 winner Kistena, 2001 winner
Imperial Beauty and Marchand d'Or, who won the race in 2008.
The
fastest ever time for the Prix de l'Abbaye was 54.3 second set in 1983
by Habibti. The jockey with the most wins is Yves Saint-Martin with five
- in 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966 and 1975. Trainer Fran?s Mathet has
celebrated a record eight victories - in 1957, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1964,
1965, 1966 and 1974. |
