Prix Foy

Turf race infobox
class = Group 2
horse race = Prix Foy


caption =
location = Longchamp Racecourse
Paris, France
inaugurated = 1955
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat race
sponsor = Qatar
website = [http://www.france-galop.com/All-the-races.233+M52087573ab0.0.html?&course_id=1541&no_cache=1&numero_id=93 France-Galop.com]
distance = 2,400 metres (1½ miles)
track = Turf, right-handed
qualification = Four-years-old and up
excluding geldings
weight = 58 kg
Allowances
1½ kg for fillies and mares
purse = €130,000 "(2008)"
Distribution
1st: 57%, 2nd: 22%
3rd: 10.5%, 4th: 7%
5th: 3.5%
bonuses = The Prix Foy is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds which are four-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.

It serves as a trial for the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, which is run three weeks later at the same venue. The field usually includes some of the leading older contenders for the "Arc", who may have appeared previously in such races as the Coronation Cup or the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

It was first run in 1955 and was originally titled the Prix Henri Foy. This was in memory of Henri Foy (1872–1954), a long-serving member of the "Société d'Encouragement", the governing body of French racing at that time. Foy became the president of this organisation in 1951, a position he occupied until his death.

Initially the Prix Henri Foy was contested over 2,300 metres and open to horses aged three-years-olds and up. The distance was cut to 2,200 metres in 1961, and the minimum age was raised to four-years-old in 1967.

The title of the race was shortened to the Prix Foy in 1969. When the present system of race grading was introduced in 1971 the event was classed at Group 3 level. It was promoted to Group 2 status in 2000. Since 1972 it has usually taken place on the same day as the Prix Niel, the equivalent "Arc" trial for three-year-olds only.

The present distance of the Prix Foy, 2,400 metres, was introduced in 1979. The fastest winning time over this length is 2m 28.6s, recorded by Ange Gabriel in 2003.

As a trial for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe the race has been less successful than the Prix Niel. Only two winners have gone on to win the "Arc" in the same year – Allez France (1974) and Sagace (1984). Another winner, Exbury, completed the double one year later. Three horses have won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after being defeated in this event – Gold River (1981), All Along (1983) and Subotica (1992).

Records

Leading jockey (9 wins):
* Yves Saint-Martin – "Suffren (1960), Acer (1964), Petrone (1968), Snow Castle (1972), Allez France (1974, 1975), Sagace (1984, 1985), Mersey (1986)"----Leading trainer (8 wins):
* André Fabre – "Ordinance (1987), Star Lift (1989), In the Wings (1990), Richard of York (1994), Carnegie (1995), Swain (1996), Shirocco (2006), Manduro (2007)"----Leading owner (7 wins):
* Daniel Wildenstein – "Petrone (1968), Allez France (1974, 1975), Sagace (1984, 1985), Mersey (1986), Star Lift (1989)"

Winners since 1980

Earlier winners

* 1955 - Norman
* 1956 - Fric
* 1957 - Blockhaus
* 1958 -
* 1959 - Bel Baraka
* 1960 - Suffren
* 1961 - Right Royal
* 1962 - Exbury
* 1963 - Misti

* 1964 - Acer
* 1965 - Sigebert
* 1966 - Taneb
* 1967 - Busted
* 1968 - Petrone
* 1969 - Park Top
* 1970 - Lorenzaccio
* 1971 -
* 1972 - Snow Castle

* 1973 - Direct Flight
* 1974 - Allez France
* 1975 - Allez France
* 1976 -
* 1977 - Malacate
* 1978 - Trillion
* 1979 - Pevero

References

* [http://www.france-galop.com/All-the-races.233+M52087573ab0.0.html?&course_id=1541&no_cache=1&numero_id=93 France-Galop.com]
* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?search_bar=stakes&query_type=stakes&field=view&id=652 PedigreeQuery.com]
* Racing Post:
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=93302&r_date=1988-9-11 1988] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=97502&r_date=1989-9-17 1989] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=102112&r_date=1990-9-16 1990] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=106933&r_date=1991-9-15 1991] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=111828&r_date=1992-9-13 1992] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=116861&r_date=1993-9-12 1993] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=122003&r_date=1994-9-11 1994] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=127465&r_date=1995-9-10 1995] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=230823&r_date=1996-9-15 1996] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=243622&r_date=1997-9-14 1997]
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=257237&r_date=1998-9-13 1998] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=272482&r_date=1999-9-12 1999] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=286956&r_date=2000-9-10 2000] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=306717&r_date=2001-9-16 2001] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=322560&r_date=2002-9-15 2002] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=339138&r_date=2003-9-14 2003] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=358651&r_date=2004-9-12 2004] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=391829&r_date=2005-9-11 2005] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=416732&r_date=2006-9-10 2006] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=440971&r_date=2007-9-16 2007]
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=466285&r_date=2008-9-14 2008]

ee also

* List of French flat horse races
* " – this race is included under its original title, Prix Henri Foy."