Grand Prix de Paris

The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.

History

The event was created by the Société d'Encouragement, a former governing body of horse racing in France. Its purpose was to serve as a showpiece in which the best home-bred three-year-olds could compete against international opponents. Its distance was originally set at 3,000 metres (about 1 mile and 7 furlongs). It was the country's first race to allow the participation of foreign horses, and the winner of the inaugural running, on May 31, 1863, was a British colt called The Ranger. The initial prize of 100,000 francs was raised by the Duc de Morny, who obtained half of the money from the Paris Municipal Council and an equal share of the remainder from each of the five main regional railway companies. During the early part of its history it was the richest and most prestigious event in French racing.

The Grand Prix de Paris was abandoned in 1871 because of the Franco-Prussian War. It was cancelled throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1918. Its position as France's leading flat race was overtaken by the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe upon its launch in 1920. Due to World War II it was temporarily switched to an alternative venue, Le Tremblay, in 1943 and 1944.

The distance of the Grand Prix de Paris was...
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