Prix La Force
# Prix La Force

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

* ↑ The 2002 winner Diaghilev was later exported to Hong Kong and renamed River Dancer
* ↑ The 2016 race took place at Saint-Cloud while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment
* ↑ The 2017 race took place at Chantilly over 1,800m (1m 1f) while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment

## 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: Millenium
* 1972: Sanur
* 1973: Verkade
* 1974: Un Kopeck
* 1975: Orante
* 1976: Malacate
* 1977: Olantengy
* The 1959 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.
