La Coupe

La Coupe is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four 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 June.

History

The event was established in 1865, and the first edition was won by Fille de l'Air. The race was named after its original trophy, which at that time was worth 10,000 francs. It was initially open to horses aged three or older and contested over 3,200 metres. It was shortened to 3,000 metres in 1895.

La Coupe was cancelled throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1919. During World War II, it was temporarily switched to Le Tremblay (1943) and Maisons-Laffitte (1944–45).

The race was closed to three-year-olds and cut to 2,600 metres in 1969. It was held at Chantilly in 1980, and from this point its distance was 2,400 metres. It returned to Chantilly in 1982, 1983 and 1985.

The distance of the race was reduced to 2,100 metres in 1991. It was cut to 2,000 metres in 1993. The event was staged at Saint-Cloud in 1994, Évry in 1995, and Saint-Cloud again in 1996.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

• Nougat – 1875, 1876
• Lutin – 1894, 1895
• Elf – 1897, 1898
• Lesotho – 1987, 1988

Leading jockey (4 wins):

• Freddy Head – High Game (1971), Balompie (1974), African Hope (1979), Zalataia (1983)
• Cash Asmussen – Terreno (1982), Romildo (1985), French Glory (1990), D'Arros (1993)
• Christophe Soumillon - Aubonne (2004), Stacelita (2010), Narniyn (2014), Air Pilot (2016)

Leading trainer (9 wins):

• Tom Jennings – Fille de l'Air (1865), Gladiateur (1866), Nelusco (1868), Trocadero (1869), Mortemer (1870), Nougat (1875, 1876), Balagny (1878), Castillon (1880, dead-heat)

Leading owner (9 wins):

• Frédéric de Lagrange – Fille de l'Air (1865), Gladiateur (1866), Nelusco (1868), Trocadero (1869), Mortemer (1870), Nougat (1875, 1876), Balagny (1878), Castillon (1880, dead-heat)

Winners since 1980

^a The 2016 race took place at Chantilly while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment.

Earlier winners

* The 1880 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.

See also

• List of French flat horse races

References

• France Galop / Racing Post:
  • "1979". , "1980". , "1981". , "1982". , "1983". , "1984". , "1985". , "1986". , "1987". , "1988". 
  • "1989". , "1990". , "1991". , "1992". , "1993". , "1994". , "1995". , "1996". , "1997". , "1998". 
  • "1999". , "2000". , "2001". , "2002". , "2003". , "2004". , "2005". , "2006". , "2007". , "2008". 
  • "2009". , "2010". , "2011". , "2012". , "2013". , "2014". , "2015". , "2016". 

• france-galop.com – A Brief History: La Coupe.
• galop.courses-france.com – La Coupe – Palmarès depuis 1980.
• galopp-sieger.de – La Coupe.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – La Coupe (2016).
• pedigreequery.com – La Coupe – Longchamp.