Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil

The Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil, sometimes referred to as the French Champion Hurdle, is a Group 1 hurdle race in France which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Auteuil over a distance of 5,100 metres (about 3 miles and 1½ furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.

History

The race was first run on May 25, 1874, the same day as the inaugural running of the Grand National de France (now the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris). It was originally open to horses aged four or older, and it was initially contested over 4,000 metres. This was increased to 4,800 metres in its second year, and to 5,000 metres in 1880. The race was given a new date in 1882 – it was moved to the Wednesday after the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, which continued to be run on the last Sunday in May. The following year saw the launch of a new steeplechase at Auteuil, the Prix des Drags, and this was scheduled for the Friday of the same week. This week of top class jump races became known as the Grande Semaine d'Auteuil. The Grande Course de Haies was run as a handicap until 1889, but since then it has held weight for age conditions.

The race was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1918. During World War II it was cancelled only once, in 1940. The minimum age was raised to five in 1961, when a new hurdle race, the Grande Course de Haies des 4 Ans (later titled the Prix Alain du Breil), was introduced specifically for four-year-olds. The distance of the Grande Course de Haies was extended to 5,100 metres in 1969. This was cut to 4,100 metres in 1975, and then restored to 5,100 metres in 1979.

Four horses have won both this event and the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. These are Blagueur II, Loreto, Ubu III and Mid Dancer. The 1947 winner of the Grande Course de Haies, Le Paillon, later won the most prestigious flat race in France, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The 1984 winner, Dawn Run (a mare trained in Ireland), also won both the Champion Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in England. She returned to Auteuil to attempt a repeat victory in 1986, but during the race she misjudged a hurdle, fell, and died almost instantly.

In 2010, the race was won by flat jockey Christophe Soumillon.

Records

Leading jockey (4 wins):

• John Boon – Vertige (1894), Charlatan (1895), Grandlieu (1898), Kerym (1899)

Leading trainer (8 wins):

• William Head – Evohe II (1937, 1938), Royal Kidney (1939), Ludovic le More (1943), Vatelys (1946), Le Paillon (1947), Septieme Ciel (1948), Friendship (1959)

Leading owner (6 wins):

• Daniel Wildenstein – Gopal (1969), Top Gear (1977), Paiute (1979, 1980), World Citizen (1982), Vaporetto (1999)

Winners since 1970

Earlier winners

* Mr Quilp finished first in 1902 but was disqualified.
* Porthos finished first in 1938 but was relegated to third place following a Stewards' Inquiry.

See also

• List of French jump horse races

References

• France-Galop / Racing Post:
  • "1983". , "1984". , "1985". , "1986". , "1987". ,"1988". , "1989". , "1990". , "1991". , "1992". 
  • "1993". , "1994". , "1995". , "1996". , "1997". , "1998". , "1999". , "2000". , "2001". , "2002". 
  • "2003". , "2004". , "2005". , "2006". , "2007". , "2008". , "2009". , "2010". , "2011". , "2012". 
  • "2013". , "2014". , "2015". , "2016". 
• galop.courses-france.com:
  • 1874–1889, 1890–1919, 1920–1949, 1950–1979, 1980–present

• france-galop.com – A Brief History: Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil.
• pedigreequery.com – Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil – Auteuil.