La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte is a Group 3 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Maisons-Laffitte over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

History

The event was established in 1906, and it was initially titled La Coupe d'Or – "The Gold Cup". In its early years it offered a valuable trophy. For the 1907 edition this was a gold cup supported by two ivory figures sculpted by Henri Allouard. It was decided in 1912 that such a trophy (worth 20,000 francs) would only be awarded to owners who won the race three times within twelve years. This was never achieved. La Coupe d'Or was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1914 to 1918.

The race was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. It was given its current title, La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte, in 1941. The trophy scheme was scrapped, and instead the winning owners were presented with an objet d'art or a souvenir. The event was temporarily switched to Longchamp in 1941 and 1942, and to Le Tremblay in 1944. It returned to Longchamp in 1945, and to Maisons-Laffitte in 1946.

The distance of the race, 2,000 metres, has remained unchanged throughout its history.

Records

Leading jockey (5 wins):

• Roger Poincelet – Cordon Rouge (1943), Un Gaillard (1944), Oural (1946), Dalama (1961), Tout Fait (1965)

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Leading trainer (5 wins):

• René Pelat – Cordon Rouge (1943), Oural (1946), Jocker (1948, 1949), Jolly Friar (1954)

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Leading owner (4 wins):

• Marcel Boussac – Priam (1945), Pharsale (1952), Dalama (1961), Locris (1970)
• Sheikh Mohammed – Nasr El Arab (1988), Tel Quel (1991), Knifebox (1992), Lord of Men (1998)

Winners since 1980

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
1980	Discretion	4	Maurice Philipperon	John Cunnington, Jr.	Sir Michael Sobell
1981	Glenorum	4	Alain Lequeux	David Smaga	Helen G. Stollery
1982	Coquelin	3	Cash Asmussen	François Boutin	Stavros Niarchos
1983	Bylly the Kid	7	Serge Prou	Raymond Touflan	Yves Duffaut
1984	Estrapade	4	Alain Lequeux	Maurice Zilber	Bruce McNall	2:08.6
1985	Palace Music	4	Eric Legrix	Patrick Biancone	Nelson Bunker Hunt	2:02.0
1986	Antheus	4	Gary W. Moore	Criquette Head	Jacques Wertheimer
1987	Tabayaan	3	Yves Saint-Martin	Alain de Royer-Dupré	HH Aga Khan IV
1988	Nasr El Arab	3	Eric Legrix	André Fabre	Sheikh Mohammed	2:01.6
1989	Petrullo	4	Guy Guignard	Richard Casey	C. A. Webster	2:03.8
1990	Dr Somerville	3	Freddy Head	Criquette Head	Maktoum Al Maktoum	2:06.0
1991	Tel Quel	3	Thierry Jarnet	André Fabre	Sheikh Mohammed
1992	Knifebox	4	Darryll Holland	John Gosden	Sheikh Mohammed	2:03.2
1993	Hatoof	4	Walter Swinburn	Criquette Head	Maktoum Al Maktoum	2:08.0
1994	Dernier Empereur	4	Sylvain Guillot	André Fabre	Gary A. Tanaka	2:04.1
1995	Gunboat Diplomacy	4	Olivier Peslier	Elie Lellouche	Daniel Wildenstein	2:06.2
1996	Running Flame	4	Olivier Peslier	John Hammond	Gary Biszantz	2:06.3
1997	Turning Wheel	4	Cash Asmussen	Dominique Sépulchre	Niarchos Family	2:06.7
1998	Lord of Men	5	Frankie Dettori	John Gosden	Sheikh Mohammed	2:00.8
1999	Chelsea Manor	3	Thierry Thulliez	Pascal Bary	Khalid Abdullah	2:06.1
2000	Agol Lack	4	Olivier Peslier	André Fabre	Sultan Al Kabeer	1:59.9
2001	Jim and Tonic	7	Thierry Thulliez	François Doumen	John D. Martin	2:05.5
2002	Fair Mix	4	Stéphane Pasquier	Marcel Rolland	Ecurie Week-End	2:03.3
2003	Gruntled	4	Thierry Gillet	John Hammond	Ecurie Chalhoub	2:01.6
2004	Fair Mix	6	Stéphane Pasquier	Marcel Rolland	Mrs Joseph Shalam	1:59.4
2005	Prospect Park	4	Olivier Peslier	Carlos Laffon-Parias	Wertheimer et Frère	2:05.4
2006	Musical Way	4	Ronan Thomas	Philippe Van de Poële	Stephanos Constantinidis	1:59.7
2007	Musical Way	5	Ronan Thomas	Philippe Van de Poële	Stephanos Constantinidis	2:03.2
2008	Pallodio	3	Davy Bonilla	John Hammond	Anne-Marie Springer	2:04.7
2009	Chinchon	4	Gérald Mossé	Carlos Laffon-Parias	Sarl Darpat France	2:01.9

Earlier winners

* The 1932 race finished as a dead-heat between Fenolo and Jus de Raisin, but it was decided by a run-off.
* The 1964 and 1966 races were dead-heats and have joint winners.

References

• Racing Post:
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• france-galop.com – A Brief History: La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte (2009).
• pedigreequery.com – La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte – Maisons-Laffitte.

See also

• List of French flat horse races
• Recurring events established in 1906 – this race is included under its original title, La Coupe d'Or.