Prix du Lys


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The Prix du Lys is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. 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 May.

History
The event is named after Le Lys, a small forest close to Chantilly on the left bank of the Oise river. It was established in 1922, and was originally open to colts and fillies, but not geldings. Its distance was 2,400 metres. It was initially restricted to horses not entered for the Prix du Jockey Club or the Prix de Diane.

The Prix du Lys was cancelled in 1940, and was held at Longchamp in 1941 and 1942. It was run at Le Tremblay over 2,300 metres in 1943 and 1944, and at Longchamp again for three years thereafter.

The exclusion of Prix du Jockey Club and Prix de Diane entrants ended in 1970. The race was closed to fillies and opened to geldings in 1986.

The Prix du Lys was contested over 2,800 metres at Saint-Cloud from 1993 to 1996. In the following years it was run over 2,600 metres at Maisons-Laffitte (1997–98) and Chantilly (1999–2000).

The race's original distance was restored in 2001, and from this point it was staged at Longchamp. It returned to Chantilly in 2009 and was run there until 2016. In 2017 it was run at Saint-Cloud and since 2018 it has been staged at Longchamp again. It is currently held on the same day as the Prix d'Ispahan and Prix Saint-Alary.

Records
Leading jockey (6 wins):
 * Roger Poincelet – Djelal (1947), Mistralor (1954), Jithaka (1956), Rugby (1962), Nasram (1963), Steady (1967)
 * Freddy Head – Mazarin (1969), Azorello (1973), Ercolano (1977), Fabulous Dancer (1979), Bellman (1981), Iris Noir (1984)

Leading trainer (15 wins):
 * André Fabre – Iris Noir (1984), Luth Dancer (1987), Northern Spur (1994), Swain (1995), Vertical Speed (1997), Epistolaire (1998), Morozov (2002), Doyen (2003), Desideratum (2005), Rail Link (2006), Airmail Special (2007), Claremont (2009), Goldwaki (2010), Kreem (2011), Flintshire (2013)

Leading owner (6 wins):
 * Sheikh Mohammed – Swain (1995), Morozov (2002), Doyen (2003), Desideratum (2005), Airmail Special (2007), Claremont (2009)

Earlier winners

 * 1922: Mazeppa
 * 1923: Grand Guignol
 * 1924: Scaramouche
 * 1925: Chubasco
 * 1926: Felton
 * 1927: Sachet
 * 1928: Bachelier
 * 1929: Double Dutch
 * 1930: Menthol
 * 1931: Triberg
 * 1932: Satrap
 * 1933: Magnus
 * 1934: Verset
 * 1935: Will of the Wisp
 * 1936: Fantastic
 * 1937: Khasnadar
 * 1938: Molitor
 * 1939: Shrift
 * 1940: no race
 * 1941: Nepenthe
 * 1942:
 * 1943: Bambou
 * 1944: Orsava
 * 1945: Kerlor
 * 1946: Eclair
 * 1947: Djelal
 * 1948: Espace Vital
 * 1949: Urfe
 * 1950: Alizier
 * 1951: Pharas
 * 1952: Orfeo
 * 1953: Sunny Dream
 * 1954: Mistralor
 * 1955: Fauchelevent
 * 1956: Jithaka
 * 1957: Mehdi
 * 1958: Upstart
 * 1959: Memorandum
 * 1960: Tehuelche
 * 1961: Le Bois Sacre
 * 1962: Rugby
 * 1963: Nasram
 * 1964: Trade Mark
 * 1965:
 * 1966: Danseur
 * 1967: Steady
 * 1968: Vaguely Noble
 * 1969: Mazarin
 * 1970: High Game
 * 1971: Music Man
 * 1972: Hair Do
 * 1973: Azorello
 * 1974: Blue Diamond
 * 1975: Corby
 * 1976: Exceller
 * 1977: Ercolano
 * 1978: Nizon