Prix Gontaut-Biron

Turf race infobox
class = Group 3
horse race = Prix Gontaut-Biron


caption =
location = Deauville Racecourse
Deauville, France
inaugurated = 1919
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat race
website = [http://www.france-galop.com/All-the-races.233+M52087573ab0.0.html?&course_id=1570&no_cache=1&numero_id=146 France-Galop.com]
distance = 2,000 metres (1¼ miles)
track = Turf, right-handed
qualification = Four-years-old and up
excluding Group 1 winners
from earlier in same year
weight = 56 kg
Allowances
1½ kg for fillies and mares
1 kg if not Group placed *
Penalties
3 kg for Group 2 winners *
3 kg if two Group 3 wins *
1½ kg if one Group 3 win *
* "since January 1"
purse = €80,000 "(2008)"
Distribution
1st: 50%, 2nd: 20%, 3rd: 15%
4th: 10%, 5th: 5%
bonuses = The Prix Gontaut-Biron is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,000 metres (approximately 1¼ miles) at Deauville Racecourse, and it takes place annually in August.

It was first run in 1919 and was named in memory of Antoine de Gontaut-Biron, an eminent figure in French racing who died in 1917. A committee member of several horse racing organisations in France, including the "Société des Courses de Deauville", Gontaut-Biron was also a racehorse owner and a race steward. He was similarly honoured by the naming of a street in Deauville, the "Rue Gontaut-Biron".

Due to World War II the race was cancelled in 1940. For the remainder of the war, while its usual venue was closed, it was switched temporarily between Maisons-Laffitte (1941–43, 1945) and Auteuil (1944). The race has otherwise continually taken place at Deauville.

From its launch until 1957 the Prix Gontaut-Biron was also open to three-year-olds. The last horse of this age to win was Montaval, a subsequent winner of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Since 1958 it has been restricted to older horses only.

In its inaugural year the race was run over a distance of 1,600 metres. Thereafter, until 1963, it was mostly contested over 2,400 metres. The exceptions were in 1955, when it was extended to 2,600 metres, and the following two years, when it was run over 2,000 metres. This shorter length has been the regular distance since 1964.

Records

Leading jockey (4 wins):
* Roger Brethès – "Rabican (1927), Ping Pong (1935), Samovar (1936), Morosini (1941)"
* Alfred Gibert – "Jefferson (1971), Nemr (1981), Great Substence (1982), Arc (1987)"----Leading trainer (4 wins):
* Alec Head – "Kilette (1950), Frere Georges (1953), Sheshoon (1960), Folkestone (1973)"----Leading owner (3 wins):
* Ralph B. Strassburger – "Berthe (1948), Montaval (1956), Rumesnil (1957)"
* Mahmoud Fustok – "Nemr (1981), Great Substence (1982), Over the Ocean (1986)"

Winners since 1980

Earlier winners

* 1919 - Saint Souplet
* 1920 - Take a Step
* 1921 - Nephthys
* 1922 - Grillemont
* 1923 - Keror
* 1924 - Almaviva
* 1925 - Cerfeuil
* 1926 - Aethelstan
* 1927 - Rabican
* 1928 -
* 1929 - Grock
* 1930 - Hotweed
* 1931 - Folio
* 1932 - Bievres
* 1933 - Minestrone
* 1934 - Astronomer
* 1935 - Ping Pong
* 1936 - Samovar
* 1937 - Paix des Dames
* 1938 - Ker Flobert
* 1939 - Palais Cardinal

* 1940 - "no race"
* 1941 - Morosini
* 1942 - Legende
* 1943 - Chateauroux
* 1944 - Sabran
* 1945 -
* 1946 -
* 1947 - Cappielluca
* 1948 - Berthe
* 1949 - Fleury
* 1950 - Kilette
* 1951 - Lacaduv
* 1952 - Vamos
* 1953 - Frere Georges
* 1954 -
* 1955 - Rosati
* 1956 - Montaval
* 1957 - Rumesnil
* 1958 -
* 1959 - Etwild
* 1960 - Sheshoon

* 1961 - Hautain
* 1962 - Liberty Truck
* 1963 -
* 1964 - Frontin
* 1965 -
* 1966 - Sigebert
* 1967 - Caldarello
* 1968 - Frontal
* 1969 - Grandier
* 1970 - Shoemaker
* 1971 - Jefferson
* 1972 - Boreen
* 1973 - Folkestone
* 1974 - Ksar
* 1975 - Record Run
* 1976 - Larkhill
* 1977 - Iron Duke
* 1978 - Gairloch
* 1979 - Rusticaro

References

* [http://www.france-galop.com/All-the-races.233+M52087573ab0.0.html?&course_id=1570&no_cache=1&numero_id=146 France-Galop.com]
* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?search_bar=stakes&query_type=stakes&field=view&id=619 PedigreeQuery.com]
* Racing Post:
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=96860&r_date=1989-8-12 1989] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=101397&r_date=1990-8-12 1990] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=106205&r_date=1991-8-11 1991] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=111258&r_date=1992-8-16 1992] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=116420&r_date=1993-8-21 1993] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=121538&r_date=1994-8-20 1994] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=126976&r_date=1995-8-19 1995] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=225686&r_date=1996-8-17 1996] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=242587&r_date=1997-8-16 1997] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=256343&r_date=1998-8-16 1998]
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=271544&r_date=1999-8-15 1999] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=286011&r_date=2000-8-12 2000] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=305599&r_date=2001-8-11 2001] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=321153&r_date=2002-8-10 2002] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=338271&r_date=2003-8-16 2003] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=357519&r_date=2004-8-14 2004] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=390738&r_date=2005-8-15 2005] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=415343&r_date=2006-8-13 2006] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=439211&r_date=2007-8-15 2007] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=464745&r_date=2008-8-16 2008]
* [http://galop.courses-france.com/plat/courses/Prix-Gontaut-Biron-1980-2009.php galop.courses-france.com]

ee also

* List of French flat horse races