Prix Messidor


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The Prix Messidor is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Maisons-Laffitte over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.

History
The event was established in 1949, and it was originally held at Saint-Cloud. It was initially called the Prix de Messidor, a name derived from messis, the Latin word for "harvest". The present title, without the "de", was introduced in 1955.

For a period the race was switched between Maisons-Laffitte (1963–65, 1968–69) and Saint-Cloud (1966–67, 1970–72). It began a longer spell at Maisons-Laffitte in 1973.

The race was transferred to Deauville in 1997. It returned to Maisons-Laffitte in 2005.

Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
 * Catilina – 1962, 1963

Leading jockey (6 wins):
 * Yves Saint-Martin – Catilina (1962, 1963), Cripton (1964), Irish Minstrel (1969), Tassmoun (1980), Ya Zaman (1981)

Leading trainer (13 wins):
 * André Fabre – Mille Balles (1984), Fitzwilliam Place (1987), Mill Native (1988), Polish Precedent (1989), Acteur Francais (1991), Fanmore (1993), Neuilly (1997), Dansili (1999), Valixir (2005), Intello (2013), Fractional (2015), Vadamos (2016), Impulsif (2019)

Leading owner (4 wins):
 * Aga Khan IV – Cripton (1964), Tassmoun (1980), Valixir (2005), Alnadana (2009)

Winners since 1978
The 2019 running moved to Deauville during unsafely track. The 2021 running moved to Chantilly due to the closure of Maisons-Laffitte. The 2022 running moved to Chantilly due to the closure of Maisons-Laffitte The 2023 running moved to Chantilly due to the closure of Maisons-Laffitte.

Earlier winners

 * 1949: Beverly
 * 1950: Philactis
 * 1951:
 * 1952: no race
 * 1953: Pomare
 * 1954: Phlox
 * 1955: Chargeur
 * 1956: Cigalon
 * 1957–59: no race
 * 1960: Fin Bec
 * 1961: Pen Mane
 * 1962: Catilina
 * 1963: Catilina
 * 1964: Cripton
 * 1965: Red Slipper
 * 1966: Agy
 * 1967: Morris Dancer
 * 1968: Fisc
 * 1969: Irish Minstrel
 * 1970: Brabant
 * 1971: Joshua
 * 1972: Arosa
 * 1973: Martinmas
 * 1974: El Toro
 * 1975: Son of Silver
 * 1976: Dona Barod
 * 1977: Malecite