Prix Vermeille

Turf race infobox
class = Group 1
horse race = Prix Vermeille


caption =
location = Longchamp Racecourse
Paris, France
inaugurated = 1897
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat race
sponsor = Qatar
website = [http://www.france-galop.com/All-the-races.233+M52087573ab0.0.html?&course_id=1516&no_cache=1&numero_id=26 France-Galop.com]
distance = 2,400 metres (1½ miles)
track = Turf, right-handed
qualification = Three-years-old and up
fillies & mares
weight = 54½ kg (3yo); 58 kg (4yo+)
purse = €300,000 "(2008)"
Distribution
1st: 57.14%, 2nd: 22.86%
3rd: 11.43%, 4th: 5.71%
5th: 2.86%
bonuses = The Prix Vermeille is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred fillies and mares which are three-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres (approximately 1½ miles) at Longchamp Racecourse, and it takes place annually in September.

First run in 1897, it is named after Vermeille (foaled 1853), a female racehorse who had been initially called "Merveille". Although she did not have a particularly remarkable racing career, Vermeille later became a very successful broodmare. By the time this race was established her descendants had achieved seven victories in the Grand Prix de Paris , seven in the Prix du Jockey Club and nine in the Prix de Diane .

Throughout World War I the Prix Vermeille was abandoned. There were two further cancellations during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. Later in the war, in 1943 and 1944, the event was temporarily switched to Tremblay – the only runnings in the race's history to have taken place away from Longchamp.

Until recently the Prix Vermeille was restricted to three-year-old fillies only. It was opened to four-year-olds in 2004, and to older mares in 2006. The race is the final leg of a Triple Crown for three-year-old fillies – the first two legs are the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Prix de Diane. Six horses have won all three races, most recently Zarkava in 2008.

The Prix Vermeille takes place three weeks before the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, on the same day as two key trials for that event, the Prix Foy and the Prix Niel. The Prix Vermeille can itself also serve as an "Arc" trial, and five horses have won both races in the same year. The latest of these is Zarkava in 2008. Two other Prix Vermeille winners have won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe one year later, most recently All Along in 1983.

The distance of the Prix Vermeille, 2,400 metres, has remained unchanged since its launch. The fastest winning time is 2m 26.0s, recorded by both Pearly Shells in 2002 and Zarkava in 2008.

Records

Leading jockey (7 wins):
* Yves Saint-Martin – "Golden Girl (1963), Casaque Grise (1967), Saraca (1969), Allez France (1973), Paulista (1974), Sharaya (1983), Darara (1986)"----Leading trainer (6 wins):
* Alain de Royer-Dupré – "Sharaya (1983), Darara (1986), Daryaba (1999), Shawanda (2005), Mandesha (2006), Zarkava (2008)"----Leading owner (7 wins):
* Marcel Boussac – "Durban (1921), Merry Girl (1928), La Circe (1933), Corteira (1948), Janiari (1956), Arbencia (1957), Astola (1961, dead-heat)"

Winners since 1970

Earlier winners

* 1897 - Ortie Blanche
* 1898 -
* 1899 - Sesara
* 1900 - Semendria
* 1901 - La Camargo
* 1902 - Ophelia
* 1903 - Mater
* 1904 - Profane
* 1905 - Brienne
* 1906 -
* 1907 -
* 1908 - Medeah
* 1909 - Ronde de Nuit
* 1910 - Basse Pointe
* 1911 - Tripolette
* 1912 - Reveuse
* 1913 - Moia
* 1914–18 - "no race"
* 1919 - Stearine
* 1920 - Meddlesome Maid
* 1921 - Durban
* 1922 - Sainte Ursule
* 1923 - Quoi

* 1924 - Isola Bella
* 1925 - La Habanera
* 1926 - Dorina
* 1927 - Samphire
* 1928 - Merry Girl
* 1929 - Calandria
* 1930 - Commanderie
* 1931 - Pearl Cap
* 1932 - Kiddie
* 1933 - La Circe
* 1934 - Mary Tudor
* 1935 - Crisa
* 1936 - Mistress Ford
* 1937 - Tonnelle
* 1938 - Ma Normandie
* 1939–40 - "no race"
* 1941 - Longthanh
* 1942 - Vigilance
* 1943 - Folle Nuit
* 1944 - La Belle du Canet
* 1945 - Nikellora
* 1946 - Pirette
* 1947 - Procureuse

* 1948 - Corteira
* 1949 - Bagheera
* 1950 - Kilette
* 1951 - Orberose
* 1952 - La Mirambule
* 1953 - Radio
* 1954 - Philante
* 1955 - Wild Miss
* 1956 - Janiari
* 1957 - Arbencia
* 1958 - Bella Paola
* 1959 - Mi Carina
* 1960 - Lezghinka
* 1961 - Anne la Douce / Astola *
* 1962 - Monade
* 1963 - Golden Girl
* 1964 - Astaria
* 1965 - Aunt Edith
* 1966 - Haltilala
* 1967 - Casaque Grise
* 1968 - Roseliere
* 1969 - Saraca

* The 1961 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.

References

* [http://www.france-galop.com/All-the-races.233+M52087573ab0.0.html?&course_id=1516&no_cache=1&numero_id=26 France-Galop.com]
* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?search_bar=stakes&query_type=stakes&field=view&id=482 PedigreeQuery.com]
* Racing Post:
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=93301&r_date=1988-9-11 1988] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=97504&r_date=1989-9-17 1989] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=102111&r_date=1990-9-16 1990] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=106935&r_date=1991-9-15 1991] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=111825&r_date=1992-9-13 1992] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=116862&r_date=1993-9-12 1993] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=122002&r_date=1994-9-11 1994] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=127464&r_date=1995-9-10 1995] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=230820&r_date=1996-9-15 1996] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=243620&r_date=1997-9-14 1997]
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=257234&r_date=1998-9-13 1998] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=272483&r_date=1999-9-12 1999] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=286957&r_date=2000-9-10 2000] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=306716&r_date=2001-9-16 2001] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=322561&r_date=2002-9-15 2002] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=339137&r_date=2003-9-14 2003] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=358650&r_date=2004-9-12 2004] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=391828&r_date=2005-9-11 2005] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=416731&r_date=2006-9-10 2006] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=441020&r_date=2007-9-16 2007]
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=466283&r_date=2008-9-14 2008]
* "galop.courses-france.com:"
** [http://galop.courses-france.com/plat/courses/Prix-Vermeille-1897-1919.php 1897-1919] , [http://galop.courses-france.com/plat/courses/Prix-Vermeille-1920-1949.php 1920-1949] , [http://galop.courses-france.com/plat/courses/Prix-Vermeille-1950-1979.php 1950-1979] , [http://galop.courses-france.com/plat/courses/Prix-Vermeille-1980-2009.php 1980-present]

ee also

* List of French flat horse races