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The Prix La Force is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles) at Longchamp in April.
History
The event is named in memory of the Duc de La Force, Bertrand Nompar de Caumont (1840–1909), a member of the Société d'Encouragement. It was established in 1910, and was initially open to horses aged three or four. Its original distance was 2,200 metres. It was later opened to older horses.
The Prix La Force was restricted to three-year-olds in 1950. From this point it was contested over 2,000 metres. For brief spells thereafter it was run over 2,200 metres (1956–58), 2,000 metres (1959–60), 2,400 metres (1961–63) and 2,600 metres (1964–65). It reverted to 2,000 metres in 1966.
The race was staged at Chantilly in 1995 and Deauville in 1996. It was run over 2,400 metres at Longchamp from 1997 to 2000. It was subsequently contested over 2,000 metres at Chantilly (2001–02) and Saint-Cloud (2003–04).
The event returned to Longchamp in 2005. It was temporarily increased to 2,100 metres in 2011. It was closed to fillies from the 2017 running.
The Prix La Force can serve as a trial for the Prix du Jockey Club. The last horse to win both races was Saonois in 2012.
Records
Leading jockey since 1950 (7 wins): Freddy Head – Cadmus (1966), Mazarin (1969), Orante (1975), Fabulous Dancer (1979), Truculent (1984), Louis Le Grand (1985), Val des Bois (1989)
Leading trainer since 1950 (8 wins): André Fabre – Al Nasr (1981), Sifting Gold (1990), Radevore (1996), Magellano (1997), Simon de Montfort (2010), Triple Threat (2013). Cloth Of Stars (2016), Graphite (2017)
Leading owner since 1950 (4 wins): Jacques Wertheimer – Orante (1975), Truculent (1984), Val des Bois (1989), Kotashaan (1991)
Winners since 1978
Earlier winners
1910: Oversight
1911: Matchless
1912: Basse Pointe
1913: Amadou
1914: Ecouen
1919: Le Dragon
1920: Cid Campeador
1921: Sourbier
1922: Zagreus
1923: Saint Hubert
1924: Premontre
1925: Cadum
1926: Ptolemy
1927: Javelot
1928: Rialto
1929: Bubbles
1931: Roi de Trefle
1932: Filarete
1936: Quai d'Orsay
1937: Gonfalonier
1941: Manjano
1942: Pampre d'Or
1943: Escamillo
1950: Alizier
1951: 1952: Aram 1953: Semillant 1954: Malatesta 1955: 1956: Fastfol 1957: Flush Royal II 1958: Currito 1959: Colisee / Simono * 1960: Puissant Chef 1961: Okay II 1962: 1963: 1964: Silfric 1965: Principino 1966: Cadmus 1967: Topyo 1968: Abgal 1969: Mazarin 1970: Sassafras 1971: 1972: Sanur 1973: Verkade 1974: Un Kopeck 1975: Orante 1976: Malacate 1977: Olantengy
* The 1959 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.
See also
List of French flat horse races
References
France Galop / Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix La Force. galop.courses-france.com – Prix La Force – Palmarès depuis 1980. galopp-sieger.de – Prix La Force. horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix La Force (2019). pedigreequery.com – Prix La Force – Longchamp.