Grand Prix de Vichy-Auvergne
| Group 3 race | |
| Location | Vichy Racecourse Vichy, France |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1875 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Website | france-galop.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2,000 metres (1¼ miles) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Three-years-old and up |
| Weight | 53½ kg (3yo); 58 kg (4yo+) Allowances 1½ kg for fillies and mares Penalties 4 kg for Group 1 winners * 3 kg for Group 2 winners * 2 kg for Group 3 winners * * since January 1 |
| Purse | €80,000 (2016) 1st: €40,000 |
The Grand Prix de Vichy-Auvergne is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Vichy over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.
The event was established in 1875, and it was originally called the Grand Prix de Vichy. It was run as a handicap until 1899, and during this period its distance was frequently modified. For several years thereafter it was titled the Grand Prix International du Cercle de Vichy. It was abandoned in 1907, and became known as the Grand Prix de la Ville de Vichy the following year.
The title was appended with "et de la Société de Sport de France" in 1958. The Société de Sport de France owned the racecourse, and later merged with similar organisations to form France Galop.
The event reverted to its original name in 1965, and was run as a handicap in 1970. It was given Group 3 status in 1976.
The name of the region where Vichy is located, Auvergne, was added to the title in 2005.
The race has been contested over various distances, with spells over 2,600 metres (1900–41, 1943–64, 1966–75), 2,400 metres (1976–91) and 2,000 metres (1992–present).
Most successful horse (2 wins):
Leading jockey (5 wins):
Leading trainer (4 wins):
Leading owner (7 wins):
1 The 1924 and 1926 races were dead-heats and have joint winners.
2 Le Chatelet finished first in 1929, but he was disqualified for obstruction.
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Wikipedia