Group 1 race | |
Location |
Longchamp Racecourse Paris, France |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1974 |
Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
Sponsor | Longines |
Website | france-galop.com |
Race information | |
Distance | 2,000 metres (1¼ miles) |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Right-handed |
Qualification | Three-years-old and up fillies and mares |
Weight | 56 kg (3yo); 58 kg (4yo+) |
Purse | €400,000 (2016) 1st: €228,560 |
The Prix de l'Opéra is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.
The event was established in 1974, and it was initially classed at Group 2 level. It was originally restricted to three and four-year-old fillies and contested over 1,850 metres.
The race was opened to older mares in 1990. It was extended to 2,000 metres and promoted to Group 1 status in 2000.
The Prix de l'Opéra was added to the Breeders' Cup Challenge series in 2011. The winner now earns an automatic invitation to compete in the same year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
The race is currently held on the first Sunday in October, the same day as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Most successful horse (2 wins):
Leading jockey (3 wins):
Leading trainer (5 wins):
Leading owner (4 wins):
a Erin Bird finished first in 1994, but she was relegated to fifth place following a stewards' inquiry.
b The 2016 running took place at Chantilly while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment.