La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte

La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte

Group 3 race
Trepan, winner in 1975, oil on canvas painted by Bob Demuyser (1920-2003)
Location	Maisons-Laffitte France
Inaugurated	1906
Race type	Flat / Thoroughbred
Website	france-galop.com
Race information
Distance	2,000 metres (1¼ miles)
Surface	Turf
Track	Straight
Qualification	Three-years-old and up
Weight	54 kg (3yo); 57 kg (4yo+) Allowances 1½ kg for fillies and mares Penalties 3 kg for Group 1 winners * 3 kg if two Group 2 wins * 2 kg if one Group 2 win * 2 kg if two Group 3 wins * 1 kg if one Group 3 win * * since January 1
Purse	€80,000 (2016) 1st: €40,000

La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Maisons-Laffitte over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

History

The event was established in 1906, and it was originally called La Coupe d'Or. One of its early trophies was a gold cup with two ivory figures sculpted by Henri Allouard. It was later decided that such valuable trophies would only be awarded to owners who won the race three times within twelve years, but this was never achieved.

La Coupe d'Or was abandoned throughout World War I. There was no running from 1914 to 1918. One person owns the 1908 Gold Cup in its original condition. I also have an original oil painting of Seasick, the horse that won the race. Painting done by Emil Adam in 1908. I will attempt to post pictures of these items shortly.

The race was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. The trophy scheme was discarded in 1941, and from this point the event was titled La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte. It was held at Longchamp in 1941 and 1942, and at Le Tremblay in 1944. It went back to Longchamp in 1945, and returned to Maisons-Laffitte in 1946.

The distance of the race has remained unchanged throughout its history.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

• Jocker – 1948, 1949
• Fair Mix – 2002, 2004
• Musical Way – 2006, 2007

Leading jockey (5 wins):

• Roger Poincelet – Cordon Rouge (1943), Un Gaillard (1944), Oural (1946), Dalama (1961), Tout Fait (1965)

Leading trainer (5 wins):

• André Fabre – Nasr El Arab (1988), Tel Quel (1991), Dernier Empereur (1994), Fractional (2014), Agol Lack (2000)
• René Pelat – Cordon Rouge (1943), Oural (1946), Jocker (1948, 1949), Jolly Friar (1954)

Leading owner (4 wins):

• Marcel Boussac – Priam (1945), Pharsale (1952), Dalama (1961), Locris (1970)
• Sheikh Mohammed – Nasr El Arab (1988), Tel Quel (1991), Knifebox (1992), Lord of Men (1998)

Winners since 1980

Earlier winners

¹ The 1932 race finished as a dead-heat between Fenolo and Jus de Raisin, but a winner was decided by a run-off.
² The 1964 and 1966 races were dead-heats and have joint winners.

See also

• List of French flat horse races
• Recurring sporting events established in 1906 – this race is included under its original title, La Coupe d'Or.

References

• France Galop / Racing Post:
  • "1979". , "1980". , "1981". , "1982". , "1983". , "1984". , "1985". , "1986". , "1987". , "1988". 
  • "1989". , "1990". , "1991". , "1992". , "1993". , "1994". , "1995". , "1996". , "1997". , "1998". 
  • "1999". , "2000". , "2001". , "2002". , "2003". , "2004". , "2005". , "2006". , "2007". , "2008". 
  • "2009". , "2010". , "2011". , "2012". , "2013". , "2014". , "2015". , "2016". 

• france-galop.com – A Brief History: La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte.
• galopp-sieger.de – La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte (2016).
• pedigreequery.com – La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte – Maisons-Laffitte.