Prix Bertrand du Breuil

History

The earliest version of the event was established at Chantilly in 1852. Its prize money was originally provided by the Chemin de Fer du Nord, a railway company in northern France and the race was titled the Prix de Chemin du Fer du Nord. The first running was a 1,200-metre flat race for two-year-olds, and in the following years it was a 2,400-metre event over hurdles. It reverted to being a flat race in 1856, when it became a 3,200-metre contest for horses aged three or older.

The Chemin de Fer du Nord continued to provide the total prize money until 1910. Thereafter, it contributed a partial amount each year until 1937. The funding discontinued when the regional railways merged to form the SNCF.

The present Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord was created in 1933, when its distance was cut to 1,400 metres. It was cancelled in 1940, and for the next two years it was held at Longchamp. It was run at Maisons-Laffitte in 1943, and was cancelled again in 1944. Another spell at Longchamp began in 1945.

The race was extended to 1,700 metres in 1950. It returned to Chantilly and reverted to 1,400 metres in 1955. The minimum age was raised to four in 1967, and the distance was increased to 1,600 metres in 1972.

The event was staged at Maisons-Laffitte in 1997 and 1998, and its current period at Chantilly began in 1999. It is now held on the same day as the Prix de Diane.

In 2013 the race was renamed in memory of Bertrand du Breuil (1926–2011), the last president of the Societe d'Encouragemment, forerunner of France Galop.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

• Menetrier – 1948, 1949
• Spirito del Vento – 2007, 2008

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 (7 wins):

• André Fabre – Mill Native (1988), French Stress (1989), Kingsalsa (2000), Cacique (2005), Apsis (2006), Byword (2011), Fintry (2015)

Leading owner (4 wins):

• Khalid Abdullah – Cacique (2005), Apsis (2006), Byword (2011). Mainsail (2013)

Winners since 1981

Earlier winners

• 1933: Dickens
• 1934: Rodosto
• 1935: Rarity
• 1936: Le Cyclone
• 1937: Republique
• 1938: Mandoline
• 1939: Earnest
• 1940: no race
• 1941: Thread
• 1942: Balthazar / Panipat *
• 1943: Fine Art
• 1944: no race
• 1945: Tango
• 1946: Vagabond
• 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: Nandou
• 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
• 1980: Rostov

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

References

• France Galop / Racing Post:

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• france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord.

• galop.courses-france.com – Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord – Palmarès depuis 1980.

• galopp-sieger.de – Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord.

• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Race Detail (2016).

• pedigreequery.com – Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord – Chantilly.