Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris

Turf race infobox
class = Group 1
horse race = Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris


caption =
location = Auteuil Racecourse
Paris, France
inaugurated = 1874
race type = Steeplechase
sponsor = Gras Savoye
website = [http://www.france-galop.com/All-the-races.233+M52087573ab0.0.html?&course_id=1619&no_cache=1&numero_id=30 France-Galop.com]
distance = 5,800 metres (3m 5f)
track = Turf, left-handed
qualification = Five-years-old and up
weight = 65 kg (5yo); 67 kg (6yo+)
Allowances
2 kg for mares
purse = €820,000 "(2008)"
Distribution
1st: 45%, 2nd: 22%, 3rd: 13%
4th: 9%, 5th: 5%, 6th: 3.5%
7th: 2.5%
bonuses = The Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris is a Group 1 steeplechase in France open to horses five-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 5,800 metres (approximately 3 miles 5 furlongs) at Auteuil Racecourse and takes place annually, presently in late May. With a current prize fund of €820,000 it is the richest and most prestigious jumps race in France.

It was first run on May 25 1874 as the Grand National de France, adopting its present title two years later. Originally a handicap race, it was seen as the French equivalent of the Grand National, a famous race in England which had been run since 1839 at Aintree.

In its first year the race was contested over 6,400 metres, which was cut to 6,000 metres in 1875. From 1889 to 1980 the race was usually run over 6,500 metres with twenty-eight obstacles for the horses to jump. The present distance, with twenty-three jumps, was introduced in 1981.

In 1890 the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris became a weight for age race, with four-year-olds carrying 62½ kg, five-year-olds 70 kg and older horses 72½ kg. An additional weight of 6 kg was carried by previous winners of either this race or the Grand National. This penalty was gradually reduced until it was discontinued in 1972. The weights have been modified several times and are presently set at 65 kg for five-year-olds and 67 kg for older horses.

The race was closed to four-year-olds in 1941 having been won sixteen times by this age group. The last four-year-old to win was Duc d'Anjou in 1932.

The two most successful horses in the race have been Hyeres III and Katko, both recording three victories. A further eight horses have won the race twice, most recently Princesse d'Anjou in 2006 and 2008. Two winners have also won the Grand National – Jerry M and Troytown. The winner of the Grand National in 1909, Lutteur III, went on to finish third in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris in 1911. The Fellow is the latest winner to also win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Twelve foreign trained horses have won the race, most recently Mandarin in 1962, trained in England by Fulke Walwyn. The most recent foreign contender to finish in second place was Captain Christy in 1975, trained in Ireland by Pat Taaffe.

Records

Leading jockey (5 wins):
* Jean Daumas – "Xanthor (1959), Cousin Pons (1961), Hyeres III (1964, 1965, 1966)"----Leading trainer (6 wins):
* Bernard Sécly – "Mon Filleul (1978), Katko (1988, 1989, 1990), Al Capone II (1997), El Paso III (2002)"----Leading owner (6 wins):
* Arthur Veil-Picard – "Saint Caradec (1909), Blagueur II (1911), Ultimatum (1913), Fleuret (1935), Ingre (1937, 1939)"

Winners since 1950

* Double Car finished first in 2002 but was subsequently disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance.

Earlier winners

* 1874 - Miss Hungerford
* 1875 - La Veine
* 1876 - Ventriloque
* 1877 - Congress
* 1878 - Wild Monarch
* 1879 - Wild Monarch
* 1880 - Recruit II
* 1881 - Maubourguet
* 1882 - Whisper Low
* 1883 - Too Good
* 1884 - Varaville
* 1885 - Redpath
* 1886 - Boissy
* 1887 - La Vigne
* 1888 - Parasang
* 1889 - Le Torpilleur
* 1890 - Royal Meath
* 1891 - Saida
* 1892 - Fleurissant
* 1893 - Skedaddle
* 1894 - Loutch
* 1895 - Styrax
* 1896 - Valois
* 1897 - Solitaire
* 1898 - Marise

* 1899 - Tancarville
* 1900 - Melibee
* 1901 - Calabrais
* 1902 - Gratin
* 1903 - Veinard
* 1904 - Dandolo
* 1905 - Canard
* 1906 - Burgrave II
* 1907 - Grosse Mere
* 1908 - Dandolo
* 1909 - Saint Caradec
* 1910 - Jerry M
* 1911 - Blagueur II
* 1912 - Hopper
* 1913 - Ultimatum
* 1914 - Lord Loris
* 1915–18 - "no race"
* 1919 - Troytown
* 1920 - Coq Gaulois
* 1921 - Roi Belge
* 1922 - Heros XII
* 1923 - L'Yser
* 1924 - Master Bob
* 1925 - Silvo
* 1926 - Portmore

* 1927 - The Coyote
* 1928 - Maguelonne
* 1929 - Le Touquet
* 1930 - Le Fils de la Lune
* 1931 - La Fregate
* 1932 - Duc d'Anjou
* 1933 - Millionnaire II
* 1934 - Agitato
* 1935 - Fleuret
* 1936 - Potentate
* 1937 - Ingre
* 1938 - Heve
* 1939 - Ingre
* 1940 - "no race"
* 1941 - Kerfany
* 1942 - Symbole
* 1943 - Kargal
* 1944 - Hahnhof
* 1945 - Boum
* 1946 - Lindor
* 1947 - Lindor
* 1948 - Rideo
* 1949 - Bouzoulou

References

* [http://www.france-galop.com/All-the-races.233+M52087573ab0.0.html?&course_id=1619&no_cache=1&numero_id=30 France-Galop.com]
* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?search_bar=stakes&query_type=stakes&field=view&id=1052 PedigreeQuery.com]
* Racing Post:
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=25161&r_date=1988-6-19 1988] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=36251&r_date=1990-6-17 1990] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=41752&r_date=1991-6-16 1991] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=47530&r_date=1992-6-21 1992] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=53341&r_date=1993-6-20 1993] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=59068&r_date=1994-6-19 1994] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=64721&r_date=1995-6-18 1995] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=205035&r_date=1996-6-16 1996] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=240413&r_date=1997-6-15 1997] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=253139&r_date=1998-5-24 1998]
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=268601&r_date=1999-5-30 1999] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=282899&r_date=2000-5-28 2000] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=302179&r_date=2001-5-27 2001] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=317926&r_date=2002-5-26 2002] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=334272&r_date=2003-5-25 2003] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=353742&r_date=2004-5-30 2004] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=386896&r_date=2005-5-29 2005] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=410743&r_date=2006-5-28 2006] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=434618&r_date=2007-5-27 2007] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=459577&r_date=2008-5-25 2008]
* "galop.courses-france.com:"
** [http://galop.courses-france.com/obstacle/Grand-Steeple-Chase-de-Paris-1874-1889.php 1874-1889] , [http://galop.courses-france.com/obstacle/Grand-Steeple-Chase-de-Paris-1890-1919.php 1890-1919] , [http://galop.courses-france.com/obstacle/Grand-Steeple-Chase-de-Paris-1920-1949.php 1920-1949] , [http://galop.courses-france.com/obstacle/Grand-Steeple-Chase-de-Paris-1950-1979.php 1950-1979] , [http://galop.courses-france.com/obstacle/Grand-Steeple-Chase-de-Paris-1980-2009.php 1980-present]
* [http://www.tbheritage.com/TurfHallmarks/racecharts/GrSCdeParis.html tbheritage.com]