Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord

Turf race infobox
class = Group 3
horse race = Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord


caption =
location = Chantilly Racecourse
Chantilly, France
inaugurated = 1852
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat race
website = [http://www.france-galop.com/All-the-races.233+M52087573ab0.0.html?&course_id=1581&no_cache=1&numero_id=135 France-Galop.com]
distance = 1,600 metres (1 mile)
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
Penalties
3 kg for Group 1 winners *
2 kg for Group 2 winners *
1 kg for Group 3 winners *
* "since September 1 last year"
purse = €80,000 "(2008)"
Distribution
1st: 50%, 2nd: 20%, 3rd: 15%
4th: 10%, 5th: 5%
bonuses = The Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord 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 1,600 metres (approximately 1 mile) at Chantilly Racecourse, and it takes place annually, presently in early June.

The earliest version of the race first took place at Chantilly on May 13 1852. The prize money of 1,000 francs was provided by the Chemin de Fer du Nord, a railway company in northern France whose trains carried racegoers of the time from Paris to Chantilly. The first running was a 1,200 metre flat race for two-year-olds, whereas for the following three years it was run as a hurdle race over 2,400 metres.

It reverted to a flat race in 1856, initially open to horses three-years-old or above and run over a distance of 3,200 metres. The Chemin de Fer du Nord continued to provide the total prize money for each running until 1910, by which time it had risen to 5,000 francs. Thereafter the company contributed a partial amount of the fund each year until ceasing in 1937, when the regional railways of France were nationalised and formed the SNCF. Despite the loss of its sponsor the race's title remained unchanged.

The present version of the race originated in 1933, when the distance was set at 1,400 metres. With the exception of a period in the early 1950s over 1,700 metres, the race continued at 1,400 metres until the present length was set in 1972. The current age restrictions were introduced in 1967, prior to which three-year-olds could also participate.

The Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord has taken place away from Chantilly several times, with spells at Longchamp (1941–42, 1945–54) and Maisons-Laffitte (1943, 1997–98).

Records

Leading jockey (7 wins):
* Freddy Head – "Apataki (1966), Regent Street (1969), My Friend Paul (1973), Rostov (1980), Big John (1982), Pluralisme (1984), Pink (1985)"----Leading trainer (5 wins):
* André Fabre – "Mill Native (1988), French Stress (1989), Kingsalsa (2000), Cacique (2005), Apsis (2006)"----Leading owner (3 wins):
* Paul de Moussac – "Pampabird (1983), Mill Native (1988), French Stress (1989)"

Winners since 1980

Earlier winners

* 1933 - Dickens
* 1934 -
* 1935 - Rarity
* 1936 - Le Cyclone
* 1937 - Republique
* 1938 -
* 1939 - Earnest
* 1940 - "no race"
* 1941 - Thread
* 1942 - Balthazar / Panipat *
* 1943 - Fine Art
* 1944 - "no race"
* 1945 - Tango
* 1946 -
* 1947 - Thiercelin
* 1948 - Menetrier

* 1949 - Menetrier
* 1950 - Eppi d'Or
* 1951 - Commando
* 1952 - Norman
* 1953 - Voltaire
* 1954 - Fine Top
* 1955 - Soleil Royal
* 1956 -
* 1957 - Renard
* 1958 -
* 1959 -
* 1960 - Rina
* 1961 - Galant Gaditan
* 1962 - Cassis
* 1963 - Hodell
* 1964 -

* 1965 - Present
* 1966 - Apataki
* 1967 - Village Square
* 1968 - Calife
* 1969 - Regent Street
* 1970 - Irish Minstrel
* 1971 - Joshua
* 1972 - Etoile Lointaine
* 1973 - My Friend Paul
* 1974 - Ace of Aces
* 1975 - Son of Silver
* 1976 - Full of Hope
* 1977 - Mittainvilliers
* 1978 - Mad Captain
* 1979 - Fils Prodigue

* The 1942 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.

References

* [http://www.france-galop.com/All-the-races.233+M52087573ab0.0.html?&course_id=1581&no_cache=1&numero_id=135 France-Galop.com]
* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?search_bar=stakes&query_type=stakes&field=view&id=671 PedigreeQuery.com]
* Racing Post:
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=91316&r_date=1988-6-12 1988] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=95387&r_date=1989-6-11 1989] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=99851&r_date=1990-6-10 1990] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=104652&r_date=1991-6-9 1991] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=109426&r_date=1992-6-9 1992] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=114602&r_date=1993-6-13 1993] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=119715&r_date=1994-6-12 1994] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=125059&r_date=1995-6-11 1995] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=204819&r_date=1996-6-9 1996] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=240250&r_date=1997-6-7 1997]
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=253905&r_date=1998-6-6 1998] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=269191&r_date=1999-6-10 1999] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=282925&r_date=2000-5-30 2000] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=302514&r_date=2001-6-2 2001] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=318681&r_date=2002-6-9 2002] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=335069&r_date=2003-6-8 2003] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=354635&r_date=2004-6-13 2004] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=387747&r_date=2005-6-12 2005] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=411897&r_date=2006-6-11 2006] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=435672&r_date=2007-6-10 2007]
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=460782&r_date=2008-6-8 2008]
* [http://galop.courses-france.com/plat/courses/prix-du-chemin-de-fer-du-nord-1980-2009.php galop.courses-france.com]

ee also

* List of French flat horse races