Prix du Prince d'Orange
| Group 3 race | |
| Location |
Longchamp Racecourse Paris, France |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1882 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Website | france-galop.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2,000 metres (1¼ miles) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | 58 kg Allowances 1½ kg for fillies |
| Purse | €80,000 (2016) 1st: €40,000 |
The Prix du Prince d'Orange is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. 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 September.
The event is named after William of Orange (1840–1879), the eldest son of William III of the Netherlands. The Prince became a member of the Jockey-Club de Paris in 1863, and took up racehorse ownership shortly before his death.
The Prix du Prince d'Orange was established in 1882. It was originally open to horses aged three or older and contested at Longchamp over 2,400 metres.
The race was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1914 to 1918. It was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. It was run at Le Tremblay over 2,200 metres in 1943 and 1944.
The event's regular distance was cut to 2,200 metres in 1963. It was shortened to 2,000 metres in 1972. The race was restricted to three-year-olds in 1994.
The Prix du Prince d'Orange sometimes serves as a trial for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Five horses have won both races in the same year. The first was Ksar in 1922, and the most recent was Saumarez in 1990.
Most successful horse (2 wins):
Leading jockey (6 wins):
Leading trainer (8 wins):
Leading owner (5 wins):
a Lesotho finished first in 1988, but he was relegated to last place following a stewards' inquiry.
b The 2016 race took place at Maisons-Laffitte while Longchamp was closed for revelopment.
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Wikipedia