Prix du Pin

The Prix du Pin is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,400 metres (about 7 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

History

The event takes its name from France's oldest horse breeding establishment, located at Le Pin-au-Haras in Orne. The stud farm's construction was authorised by Louis XIV in 1715, and the first horses it accommodated were transferred from the previous Royal Stud at Saint-Léger-en-Yvelines in 1717.^[1]

The Prix du Pin was introduced at Chantilly in 1883. It was run over 3,000 metres in late October, and was initially designed to test the aptitudes of horses for carrying unusually high weights. The burden for four-year-olds was 78½ kg (173 lb), while that for older horses was 80 kg (176 lb). It was cut to 2,000 metres in 1904.

The event was cancelled in 1906 as an indirect result of public disorder at Longchamp. Three meetings were switched to Chantilly, and to make way for the extra races the Prix du Pin was dropped. It was moved to Longchamp and restored to 3,000 metres the following year. It was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1914 to 1918.

The original conditions were maintained until 1928. From this point the basic weight for horses aged four or older was 60 kg (132 lb). The race was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. It was held at Maisons-Laffitte in 1943 and Le Tremblay in 1944.

The distance of the Prix du Pin remained at 3,000 metres until 1949. It was subsequently contested over 2,500 metres (1950–51), 1,850 metres (1952–55), 2,600 metres (1956) and 2,000 metres (1957–59). In the 1960s, it was run over 1,850 metres (1960–61), 2,100 metres (1962–63), 2,000 metres (1964) and 1,800 metres (1965–69). It was shortened to 1,400 metres in 1970.

For a period the Prix du Pin held Listed status. It was promoted to Group 3 level in 2004.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

• Mamiano – 1895, 1896
• Porthos – 1935, 1937
• Kaldoun – 1978, 1979

Leading jockey (4 wins):

• Edouard Watkins – Avoir (1893), Boissiere (1894), Champaubert (1897), Cazabat (1899)
• George Stern – Ivoire (1901), La Camargo (1902), Chatou (1909), Cadet Roussel (1911)
• Yves Saint-Martin – Johannesburg (1974), Nurabad (1976), Kaldoun (1979), Allius (1987)

Leading trainer (7 wins):

• Criquette Head-Maarek – Made of Pearl (1986), Bitooh (1988), Malaspina (1989), Neverneyev (1994), Vert Val (1997), Midnight Foxtrot (1999), Etoile Montante (2003)

Leading owner (5 wins):

• Daniel Wildenstein – Perpetual (1969), Johannesburg (1974), Nurabad (1976), Poplar Bluff (1995), Alamo Bay (1998)

Winners since 1978

^a Keos finished first in 1997, but he was relegated to third place following a stewards' inquiry.
^b The 2016 running took place at Chantilly while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment.

Earlier winners

* The 1929 and 1945 races were dead-heats and have joint winners.

See also

• List of French flat horse races

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: Prix du Pin.
• galopp-sieger.de – Prix du Pin.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix du Pin (2016).
• pedigreequery.com – Prix du Pin – Longchamp.