Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp

Turf race infobox
class = Group 1
horse race = Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp


caption =
location = Longchamp Racecourse
Paris, France
inaugurated = 1957
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat race
sponsor = Qatar
website = [http://www.france-galop.com/All-the-races.233+M52087573ab0.0.html?&course_id=1529&no_cache=1&numero_id=9 France-Galop.com]
distance = 1,000 metres (5f)
track = Turf, straight
qualification = Two-years-old and up
weight = 54 kg (2yo); 62 kg (3yo+)
Allowances
1½ kg for fillies and mares
purse = €250,000 "(2008)"
Distribution
1st: 57.14%, 2nd: 22.86%
3rd: 11.43%, 4th: 5.71%
5th: 2.86%
bonuses = The Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds which are two-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 1,000 metres (approximately 5 furlongs) at Longchamp Racecourse, and it takes place annually in early October.

It was one of two major new races which were introduced in 1957 to celebrate the centenary of Longchamp Racecourse. Both of these races initially took place on the first Sunday in October, the same day as the most prestigious event in France, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The Prix de l'Abbaye still takes place at this meeting, but the other race, the Prix du Moulin, is now contested in early September.

The race is named after the "Abbaye de Longchamp", an abbey which was once located on the "plaine des Longchamps", at the northern edge of what is now the racecourse. This was founded in the 13th century by Isabel of France, the sister of King Saint Louis. The abbey was destroyed during the French Revolution, and there is presently a country house on part of its site known as the "Château de Longchamp".

When the present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, the Prix de l'Abbaye was initially classed as a Group 2 event. It was promoted to the highest level, Group 1, in 1976. Originally the race excluded geldings, but this restriction was lifted in 2001.

The Prix de l'Abbaye is regularly won by horses based outside France. Since 1980 there have only been three home trained winners – Kistena (1996), Imperial Beauty (2001) and Marchand d'Or (2008).

With a short distance of 1,000 metres, the Prix de l'Abbaye is seen as a "sprint race". The fastest winning time in the event is 54.3 seconds, which was achieved by Habibti in 1983. This remains the overall French record at this distance, and it equates to an average speed of 66.3 km/h or 41.2 mph.

Records

Leading jockey (5 wins):
* Yves Saint-Martin – "Fortino (1962), Texanita (1963), Silver Shark (1965), Farhana (1966), Lianga (1975)"----Leading trainer (8 wins):
* François Mathet – "Texana (1957), Edellic (1958), Fortino (1962), Texanita (1963, 1964), Silver Shark (1965), Farhana (1966), Moubariz (1974)"----Leading owner (4 wins):
* François Dupré – "Texana (1957), Fortino (1962), Texanita (1963, 1964)"
* Robert Sangster – "Committed (1984), Double Schwartz (1986), Handsome Sailor (1988), Carmine Lake (1997)"

Winners since 1972

note label|2008|1|1 The scheduled running in 2008 had a false start and was declared void. Stall number 17, the starting berth of Fleeting Spirit, failed to open. A signal was raised for the jockeys of other horses to stop racing but most did not initially respond, and some continued to race to the finish. The first to the line was Overdose, whose unofficial time of 54.0s, assisted by a strong following wind, would have set a new record in the race. The second and third horses home were Strike Up the Band and Dandy Man. A re-run was arranged, but three of the original participants, including Overdose and Dandy Man, were withdrawn. The rescheduled running took place at the end of the day's racing, about 4½ hours after the void race. The original "runner-up", Strike Up the Band, finished fourth. Fleeting Spirit was fifth.

Earlier winners

* 1957 - Texana
* 1958 - Edellic
* 1959 - Sly Pola
* 1960 - High Bulk
* 1961 - L'Epinay

* 1962 - Fortino
* 1963 - Texanita
* 1964 - Texanita
* 1965 - Silver Shark
* 1966 - Farhana

* 1967 - Pentathlon
* 1968 - Be Friendly
* 1969 - Tower Walk
* 1970 - Balidar
* 1971 - Sweet Revenge

References

* [http://www.france-galop.com/All-the-races.233+M52087573ab0.0.html?&course_id=1529&no_cache=1&numero_id=9 France-Galop.com]
* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?search_bar=stakes&query_type=stakes&field=view&id=21 PedigreeQuery.com]
* Racing Post:
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=93663&r_date=1988-10-2 1988] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=97838&r_date=1989-10-8 1989] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=102524&r_date=1990-10-7 1990] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=107335&r_date=1991-10-6 1991] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=112227&r_date=1992-10-4 1992] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=117252&r_date=1993-10-3 1993] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=122425&r_date=1994-10-2 1994] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=127891&r_date=1995-10-1 1995] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=231444&r_date=1996-10-6 1996] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=244306&r_date=1997-10-5 1997]
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=257904&r_date=1998-10-4 1998] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=273180&r_date=1999-10-3 1999] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=291596&r_date=2000-10-1 2000] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=307418&r_date=2001-10-7 2001] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=323237&r_date=2002-10-6 2002] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=340052&r_date=2003-10-5 2003] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=359487&r_date=2004-10-3 2004] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=392450&r_date=2005-10-2 2005] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=417766&r_date=2006-10-1 2006] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=441971&r_date=2007-10-7 2007]
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=467226&r_date=2008-10-5 2008]
* "galop.courses-france.com:"
** [http://galop.courses-france.com/plat/courses/Prix-de-l'Abbaye-de-Longchamp-1950-1979.php 1957-1979] , [http://galop.courses-france.com/plat/courses/Prix-de-l'Abbaye-de-Longchamp-1980-2009.php 1980-present]

ee also

* List of French flat horse races