The Prix André Baboin is a Listed flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at various racecourses over distances of around 2,000 metres (1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.
History The event was established in 1982, and it was originally called the Grand Prix des Provinces. Instead of having a permanent venue, it was designed to alternate between the main regional racecourses of France. The first three editions were held at Bordeaux le Bouscat, Lyon-Parilly and Marseille-Borély.
The early runnings of the Grand Prix des Provinces were contested over 2,000 metres. The event was given Group 3 status in 1984.
The race was renamed in memory of André Baboin in 1986. Baboin served as the chairman of the Société des Courses de Lyon, and was also a committee member of the Société d'Encouragement. He died in 1985.
The Prix André Baboin was extended to 2,200 metres in 1987. It was restored to 2,000 metres in 1993. Its original sequence of venues — Bordeaux, Lyon and Marseille — was repeated until 2000. It was staged at Toulouse in 2001.
The event was switched between Lyon and Bordeaux between 2002 and 2011, and returned to Marseille-Borély in 2012. The 2013 running took place at Bordeaux again, followed by Lyon in 2014. Its distance at Bordeaux is now 1,900 metres. In 2015 the race was run at Angers and it returned to Lyon in 2016, then Bordeaux in 2017 and Marseilles in 2018. It was downgraded to Listed status in 2018.
Records Most successful horse: no horse has won this race more than once
Leading jockey (3 wins): Gérald Mossé – Partipral (1994), Astarabad (1997), Right Wing (2000) Olivier Peslier – Parme (1995), Homeland (2001), Doctor Dino (2006)
Leading trainer (3 wins): Alain de Royer-Dupré – Lowell (1989), Astarabad (1997), Valentino (2004) Élie Lellouche – Our Account (1990), Parme (1995), Starlish (2009) François Rohaut – Homeland (2001), Sign of the Wolf (2003), Bal de la Rose (2007) Jean-Claude Rouget – Flanaghan Cocktail (1991), Kadance Ville (1999), Zafiro (2017)
Leading owner (2 wins): Gary Tanaka – Homeland (2001), Caesarion (2002)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time 1982 Darly 3 Alain Lequeux David Smaga Georges Blizniansky 1983 Dayzaan 7 Freddy Head André Fabre Peter Baumgartner 1984 Monjal 3 Jean-Luc Kessas Bernard Sécly Salomon Sawicka 1985 Pylades 3 Alain Junk Charlie Milbank Egon Wanke 1986 Yaka 3 Alain Badel Alain Chelet Mrs Arthur Dewez 1987 Grand Fleuve 3 Maurice Philipperon John Cunnington Jr. Paul de Moussac 1988 Vaguely Pleasant 6 Dominique Boeuf Patrick Biancone André Ben Lassin 1989 Lowell 3 William Mongil Alain de Royer-Dupré Marquesa de Moratalla 2:16.80 1990 Our Account 6 Philippe Bruneau Élie Lellouche Denis Krief 1991 Flanaghan Cocktail 3 Philippe Dumortier Jean-Claude Rouget Jean-Michel Lorca 1992 Oumnaz 3 Norbert Jeanpierre Xavier Betron Ecurie Belles Provinces 1993 Marildo 6 Guy Guignard David Smaga David Smaga 1994 Partipral 5 Gérald Mossé M. Delcher Sánchez Enrique Sarasola 1995 Parme 4 Olivier Peslier Élie Lellouche Daniel Wildenstein 2:06.30 1996 Artan 4 Peter Schiergen Martin Rölke Stall Brandenburg 2:08.00 1997 Astarabad 3 Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 1998 Great Dane 3 Kieren Fallon Henry Cecil Greenbay Stables Ltd 2:16.80 1999 Kadance Ville 4 Jean-René Dubosc Jean-Claude Rouget Serge Boucheron 2:00.90 2000 Right Wing 6 Gérald Mossé John Dunlop 8th Earl Cadogan 2:01.20 2001 Homeland 3 Olivier Peslier François Rohaut Gary Tanaka 2:03.60 2002 Caesarion 3 Stéphane Pasquier Jean de Roualle Gary Tanaka 2:16.08 2003 Sign of the Wolf 3 François-Xavier Bertras François Rohaut Andrew Crichton 2:09.00 2004 Valentino 5 Ioritz Mendizabal Alain de Royer-Dupré Fierro / Forien 2:05.00 2005 Laverock 3 Miguel Blancpain Carlos Laffon-Parias Maktoum Al Maktoum 2:12.57 2006 Doctor Dino 4 Olivier Peslier Richard Gibson Martinez Salmean / Nanni 2:03.30 2007 Bal de la Rose 3 Stéphane Pasquier François Rohaut Berend van Dalfsen 2:13.63 2008 Chopastair 7 Jean-Bernard Eyquem Thierry Lemer Ivoula / Blazy 2:02.94 2009 Starlish 4 Anthony Crastus Élie Lellouche Mrs Daniel Malingue 2:13.86 2010 Zibimix 6 Gregory Benoist Xavier Nakkachdji Antoine Boucher 2:03.25 2011 Akarlina 5 Thierry Thulliez Nicolas Clément Ecurie Mister Ess A S 2:12.01 2012 Mobaco 3 Remi Fradet Frédéric Rossi Jean-Claude Seroul 2:03.34 2013 Celtic Rock 4 José-Luis Martinez José Carlos Fernandez M de l A Maestre Torres 2:06.66 2014 Dartagnan D'Azur 5 Mickael Barzalona Werner Hefter Stall Donna 2:19.22 2015 Beautiful Heroine 4 Pierre-Charles Boudot Francis-Henri Graffard Nikolay Shurupov 2:03.58 2016 Subway Dancer 4 Radek Koplik Zdeno Koplik Bonanza 2:14.87 2017 Zafiro 5 Jean-Bernard Eyquem Jean-Claude Rouget Ecurie Antonio Caro 2:04.79 2018 Star Victory 7 Anthony Crastus J-L Dubord Gold and Blue Limited 2:09.52
Distance and venue
1982: 2,000m, Bordeaux le Bouscat 1983: 2,000m, Lyon-Parilly 1984: 2,000m, Marseille-Borély 1985: 2,000m, Bordeaux le Bouscat 1986: 2,200m, Lyon-Parilly 1987: 2,200m, Marseille-Borély 1988: 2,200m, Bordeaux le Bouscat 1989: 2,200m, Lyon-Parilly 1990: 2,200m, Marseille-Borély 1991: 2,200m, Bordeaux le Bouscat 1992: 2,200m, Lyon-Parilly 1993: 2,000m, Marseille-Borély 1994: 1,900m, Bordeaux le Bouscat 1995: 2,000m, Lyon-Parilly 1996: 2,000m, Marseille-Borély 1997: 1,900m, Bordeaux le Bouscat 1998: 2,000m, Lyon-Parilly 1999: 2,000m, Marseille-Borély 2000: 1,900m, Bordeaux le Bouscat 2001: 2,000m, Toulouse 2002: 2,000m, Lyon-Parilly 2003: 2,000m, Lyon-Parilly 2004: 1,900m, Bordeaux le Bouscat 2005: 2,000m, Lyon-Parilly 2006: 1,900m, Bordeaux le Bouscat 2007: 2,000m, Lyon-Parilly 2008: 1,900m, Bordeaux le Bouscat 2009: 2,000m, Lyon-Parilly 2010: 1,900m, Bordeaux le Bouscat 2011: 2,000m, Lyon-Parilly 2012: 2,000m, Marseille-Borély 2013: 1,900m, Bordeaux le Bouscat 2014: 2,000m, Lyon-Parilly 2015: 2,000m, Angers 2016: 2,000m, Lyon-Parilly 2017: 1,900m, Bordeaux le Bouscat 2018: 2,000m, Marseille-Borély
See also List of French flat horse races Recurring sporting events established in 1982 – this race is included under its original title, Grand Prix des Provinces.
References
France Galop / Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix André Baboin. galopp-sieger.de – Prix André Baboin (ex Grand Prix des Provinces). horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix André Baboin (2017). pedigreequery.com – Prix André Baboin.