The Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks, is one of the most important and prestigious Group 1 horse races in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June. It is one of four races in France with a purse of a million euros or more.
It is France's equivalent of The Oaks, a famous race in England.
Over 40,000 people from around the world attend the races to not only watch the races and bet on horses, but also to showcase the latest fashion trends.
History The event is named after the mythological goddess Diana (in French, "Diane"). It was established in 1843, and was originally restricted to horses born and bred in France. Its distance was set at 2,100 metres, around 300 metres shorter than the English version. It was switched to Versailles during the Revolution of 1848, and was cancelled due to the Franco-Prussian War in 1871.
The Prix de Diane was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1918. The first two post-war editions were held at Longchamp, and it returned to Chantilly in 1921. It took place at Longchamp again in 1936.
The race was cancelled once during World War II, in 1940. It was staged at Longchamp in 1941 and 1942, and at Le Tremblay over 2,150 metres in 1943 and 1944. It returned to Longchamp for the following three years, and on the second occasion it was opened to foreign participants. The first foreign-trained horse to win was Sweet Mimosa in 1970.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Prix de Diane was classed at the highest level, Group 1. A strike by stable lads caused the 1975 running to be abandoned. That year's favourite had been Ivanjica.
The event was sponsored by Revlon from 1977 to 1982, and by Hermès from 1983 to 2007. It was not sponsored from 2008 to 2010, and has been backed by Longines since 2011.
Two fillies have won both the Prix de Diane and the English Oaks – Fille de l'Air in 1864 and Pawneese in 1976. Six Prix de Diane winners have subsequently won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, most recently Treve in 2013.
Records Leading jockey (5 wins): Spreoty – Serenade (1848), Hervine (1851), Dame d'Honneur (1856), Mademoiselle de Chantilly (1857), Etoile du Nord (1858) Charles Pratt – Geologie (1859), Finlande (1861), Stradella (1862), Fille de l'Air (1864), Sornette (1870) Yves Saint-Martin – La Sega (1962), Rescousse (1972), Allez France (1973), Pawneese (1976), Madelia (1977) Gérald Mossé – Restless Kara (1988), Shemaka (1993), Vereva (1997), Zainta (1998), Daryaba (1999)
Leading trainer (9 wins): Henry Jennings – Nativa (1843), Lanterne (1844), Dorade (1846), Serenade (1848), Fleur de Marie (1850), Geologie (1859), Surprise (1860), Destinee (1874), Tyrolienne (1875)
Leading owner (7 wins): HH Aga Khan IV – Shemaka (1993), Vereva (1997), Zainta (1998), Daryaba (1999), Zarkava (2008), Sarafina (2010), Valyra (2012)
Winners since 1969 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time 1969 Crepellana Roger Poincelet Maurice Vacquet Marcel Boussac 2:12.10 1970 Sweet Mimosa Bill Williamson Seamus McGrath Seamus McGrath 2:11.00 1971 Pistol Packer Freddy Head Alec Head Ghislaine Head 2:12.20 1972 Rescousse Yves Saint-Martin Geoffroy Watson Baron de Redé 2:10.30 1973 Allez France Yves Saint-Martin Albert Klimscha Daniel Wildenstein 2:07.50 1974 Highclere Joe Mercer Dick Hern Queen Elizabeth II 2:07.70 1975 no race 1975 1976 Pawneese Yves Saint-Martin Angel Penna Sr. Daniel Wildenstein 2:09.00 1977 Madelia Yves Saint-Martin Angel Penna Sr. Daniel Wildenstein 2:10.30 1978 Reine de Saba Freddy Head Alec Head Jacques Wertheimer 2:09.40 1979 Dunette Georges Doleuze E. Chevalier du Fau Mrs Harry Love 2:08.60 1980 Mrs Penny Lester Piggott Ian Balding Eric Kronfeld 2:10.10 1981 Madam Gay Lester Piggott Paul Kelleway Geoffrey Kaye 2:06.50 1982 Harbour Freddy Head Criquette Head Ecurie Aland 2:16.80 1983 Escaline Gary W. Moore John Fellows Mrs John Fellows 2:07.80 1984 Northern Trick Cash Asmussen François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 2:11.60 1985 Lypharita Lester Piggott André Fabre Luay Tewfik Al Swaidi 2:05.90 1986 Lacovia Freddy Head François Boutin Gerry Oldham 2:07.00 1987 Indian Skimmer Steve Cauthen Henry Cecil Sheikh Mohammed 2:11.40 1988 Resless Kara Gérald Mossé François Boutin Jean-Luc Lagardère 2:07.50 1989 Lady in Silver Tony Cruz Roger Wojtowiez Mahmoud Abdul Karim 2:10.60 1990 Rafha Willie Carson Henry Cecil Prince A. A. Faisal 2:11.70 1991 Caerlina Éric Legrix Jean de Roualle Kaichi Nitta 2:10.50 1992 Jolypha Pat Eddery André Fabre Khalid Abdullah 2:09.50 1993 Shemaka Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré Aga Khan IV 2:16.00 1994 East of the Moon Cash Asmussen François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 2:07.90 1995 Carling Thierry Thulliez Corine Barande-Barbe Ecurie Delbart 2:07.70 1996 Sil Sila Cash Asmussen Bryan Smart Luis Álvarez Cervera 2:07.30 1997 Vereva Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré Aga Khan IV 2:08.20 1998 Zainta Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré Aga Khan IV 2:11.20 1999 Daryaba Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré Aga Khan IV 2:16.10 2000 Egyptband Olivier Doleuze Criquette Head Wertheimer et Frère 2:08.50 2001 Aquarelliste Dominique Boeuf Élie Lellouche Daniel Wildenstein 2:09.50 2002 Bright Sky Dominique Boeuf Élie Lellouche Ecurie Wildenstein 2:07.60 2003 Nebraska Tornado Richard Hughes André Fabre Khalid Abdullah 2:08.10 2004 Latice Christophe Soumillon Jean-Marie Béguigné Enrico Ciampi 2:07.00 2005 Divine Proportions Christophe Lemaire Pascal Bary Niarchos Family 2:06.30 2006 Confidential Lady Seb Sanders Mark Prescott Cheveley Park Stud 2:05.90 2007 West Wind Frankie Dettori Henri-Alex Pantall Sheikh Mohammed 2:06.30 2008 Zarkava Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré Aga Khan IV 2:07.10 2009 Stacelita Christophe Lemaire Jean-Claude Rouget Schwartz / Monastic 2:06.23 2010 Sarafina Christophe Lemaire Alain de Royer-Dupré Aga Khan IV 2:07.80 2011 Golden Lilac Maxime Guyon André Fabre Gestüt Ammerland 2:07.90 2012 Valyra Johnny Murtagh Jean-Claude Rouget Aga Khan IV 2:10.11 2013 Treve Thierry Jarnet Criquette Head Haras du Quesnay 2:03.77 2014 Avenir Certain Grégory Benoist Jean-Claude Rouget Caro / Augustin-Normand 2:05.37 2015 Star of Seville Frankie Dettori John Gosden Lady Bamford 2:05.69 2016 La Cressonniere Cristian Demuro Jean-Claude Rouget Caro / Augustin-Normand 2:09.45 2017 Senga Stéphane Pasquier Pascal Bary Niarchos Family 2:05.97 2018 Laurens P. J. McDonald Karl Burke John Dance 2:06.112019ChannelPierre-Charles BoudotFrancis-Henri Graffard Samuel De Barros2:08.702020 Fancy BluePierre-Charles BoudotDonnacha O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier2:05.462021 Joan of ArcIoritz MendizabalAidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier2:09.052022NashwaHollie DoyleJohn & Thady Gosden Imad Alsagar2:06.63 2023 Blue Rose Cen Aurelien Lemaitre Christopher Head Yeguada Centurion SL 2:05.09 2024 Sparkling Plenty Tony Piccone Patrice Cottier Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois 2:07.64 2025 Gezora Christophe Soumillon Francis-Henri Graffard White Birch Farm 2:06.57 2026 Diamond Necklace Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier / Westerberg 2:03:78
Earlier winners
1843: Nativaa 1844: Lanterne 1845: Suavita 1846: Dorade 1847: Wirthschaft 1848: Serenade 1849: Vergogne 1850: Fleur de Marie 1851: Hervine 1852: Bounty 1853: Jouvence 1854: Honesty 1855: Ronzi 1856: Dame d'Honneur 1857: Mademoiselle de Chantilly 1858: Etoile du Nord 1859: Geologie 1860: Surprise 1861: Finlande 1862: Stradella 1863: La Toucques 1864: Fille de l'Air 1865: Deliane 1866: Victorieuse 1867: Jeune Premiere 1868: Jenny 1869: Peripetie 1870: Sornette 1871: no race 1872: Little Agnes 1873: Campeche 1874: Destinee * 1875: Tyrolienne * 1876: Mondaine 1877: La Jonchere 1878: Brie 1879: Nubienne 1880: Versigny 1881: Serpolette 1882: Mademoiselle de Senlis 1883: Verte Bonne 1884: Fregate 1885: Barberine 1886: Presta 1887: Bavarde 1888: Solange 1889: Criniere 1890: Wandora 1891: Primrose 1892: Annita 1893: Praline 1894: Brisk 1895: Kasbah 1896: Liane 1897: Roxelane 1898: Cambridge 1899: Germaine 1900: Semendria 1901: La Camargo 1902: Kizil Kourgan 1903: Rose de Mai 1904: Profane 1905: Clyde 1906: Flying Star 1907: Saint Astra 1908: Medeah 1909: Union 1910: Marsa 1911: Rose Verte 1912: Qu'elle Est Belle 1913: Moia 1914: Alerte 1915–18: no race 1919: Quenouille 1920: Flowershop 1921: Doniazade 1922: Pellsie 1923: Quoi 1924: Uganda 1925: Aquatinte 1926: Dorina 1927: Fairy Legend 1928: Mary Legend 1929: Ukrania 1930: Commanderie 1931: Pearl Cap 1932: Perruche Bleue 1933: Vendange 1934: Adargatis 1935: Peniche 1936: Mistress Ford 1937: En Fraude 1938: Feerie 1939: Lysistrata 1940: no race 1941: Sapotille 1942: Vigilance 1943: Caravelle 1944: Pointe a Pitre 1945: Nikellora 1946: Pirette 1947: Montenica 1948: Corteira 1949: Bagheera 1950: Aglae Grace 1951: Stratonice 1952: Seria 1953: La Sorellina 1954: Tahiti 1955: Douve 1956: Apollonia 1957: Cerisoles 1958: Dushka 1959: Barquette 1960: Timandra 1961: Hermieres 1962: La Sega 1963: Belle Ferronniere 1964: Belle Sicambre 1965: Blabla 1966: Fine Pearl 1967: Gazala 1968: Roseliere
* The 1874 and 1875 races finished as dead-heats, but each was decided by a run-off.
See also List of French flat horse races
References
Racing Post/France Galop: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
galop.courses-france.com:
External links
france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix de Diane. galopp-sieger.de – Prix de Diane. horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix de Diane (2017). pedigreequery.com – Prix de Diane – Chantilly. tbheritage.com – Prix de Diane.