The Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil, sometimes referred to as the French Champion Hurdle, is a Group 1 hurdle race

Hurdling (horse race)

A Hurdle race in England is a National Hunt horse race where the horses jump over obstacles called hurdles that are over three and a half feet high. They are typically made of brush, that has some flexability. Hurdle races always have a minimum of eight hurdles and a minimum distance of two miles ....

 in France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 which is open to horses

Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...

 aged five years or older. It is run at Auteuil

Auteuil Hippodrome

The Auteuil Hippodrome is a horse racing venue on Route des Lacs in Paris, France. The 33-hectare race course opened November 1, 1873...

 over a distance of 5,100 metres (about 3 miles and 1½ furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.

History

The race was first run on May 25, 1874, the same day as the inaugural running of the Grand National de France (now the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris

Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris

The Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris is a Group 1 steeplechase in France which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Auteuil over a distance of 5,800 metres , and during its running there are twenty-three fences to be jumped...

). It was originally open to horses aged four or older, and it was initially contested over 4,000 metres. This was increased to 4,800 metres in its second year, and to 5,000 metres in 1880. The race was given a new date in 1882 – it was moved to the Wednesday after the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, which continued to be run on the last Sunday in May. The following year saw the launch of a new steeplechase

Steeplechase

Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...

 at Auteuil, the Prix des Drags, and this was scheduled for the Friday of the same week. This week of top class jump races became known as the Grande Semaine d'Auteuil. The Grande Course de Haies was run as a handicap until 1889, but since then it has held weight for age

Weight for Age

Weight for Age is a term in Thoroughbred horse racing which is one of the conditions for a race. It means that a horse will carry a set weight in accordance with the Weight for Age Scale. This weight varies depending on the horse’s age, its sex, the race distance and the month of the year...

 conditions.

The race was abandoned throughout World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, with no running from 1915 to 1918. During World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 it was cancelled only once, in 1940. The minimum age was raised to five in 1961, when a new hurdle race, the Grande Course de Haies des 4 Ans (later titled the Prix Alain du Breil), was introduced specifically for four-year-olds. The distance of the Grande Course de Haies was extended to 5,100 metres in 1969. This was cut to 4,100 metres in 1975, and then restored to 5,100 metres in 1979.

Four horses have won both this event and the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. These are Blagueur II, Loreto, Ubu III and Mid Dancer. The 1947 winner of the Grande Course de Haies, Le Paillon, later won the most prestigious flat race

Flat racing

Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...

 in France, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...

. The 1984 winner, Dawn Run

Dawn Run

Dawn Run was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was the most successful racemare in the history of National Hunt racing. She won the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham racing festival in 1984 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup over fences at the festival in 1986. Dawn Run was the only racehorse to have...

 (a mare

Mare

Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...

 trained in Ireland), also won both the Champion Hurdle

Champion Hurdle

The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...

 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup

Cheltenham Gold Cup

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...

 in England. She returned to Auteuil to attempt a repeat victory in 1986, but during the race she misjudged a hurdle, fell, and died almost instantly.

In 2010, the race won by flat jockey Christophe Soumillon

Christophe Soumillon

Christophe Soumillon is a Belgian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Career:Raised in a horse racing family, he is the son of a horse jumping jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon. Christophe Soumillon apprenticed at Chantilly Racecourse in Chantilly, France to Cédric Boutin, and won his first race in...

.

Records

Leading jockey

Jockey

A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...

 (4 wins):

• John Boon – Vertige (1894), Charlatan (1895), Grandlieu (1898), Kerym (1899)

----
Leading trainer

Horse trainer

In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...

 (8 wins):

• William Head – Evohe II (1937, 1938), Royal Kidney (1939), Ludovic le More (1943), Vatelys (1946), Le Paillon (1947), Septieme Ciel (1948), Friendship (1959)

----
Leading owner (6 wins):

• Daniel Wildenstein
  Daniel Wildenstein
  Daniel Leopold Wildenstein was a French art dealer and scholar, as well as a leading thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder....
  
   – Gopal (1969), Top Gear (1977), Paiute (1979, 1980), World Citizen (1982), Vaporetto (1999)

Winners since 1970

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner
1970	Samour	5	Christian Mahé	Jean Laumain	Mrs Hubert Seutet
1971	Le Pontet	6	François Bonni	Gérard Philippeau	Josette Rossi
1972	Hardatit	6	C. Fornaroli	René Pelat	Charles Sweeny
1973	Hardatit	7	Pierre Costes	René Pelat	Charles Sweeny
1974	Baby Taine	5	Ronny Dupon	André Adèle	Georges Blizniansky
1975	Mazel Tov	5	Serge Roux	André Adèle	Mrs Julien Décrion
1976	Les Roseaux	7	Daniel Merle	Gérard Boeuf	Nicole Sarmant
1977	Top Gear	5	Dominique Costard	Georges Pelat	Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Leopold Wildenstein was a French art dealer and scholar, as well as a leading thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder....
1978	Roselier	5	Serge Bérard	Léon Gaumondy	Mrs Léon Gaumondy
1979	Paiute	6	Martin Blackshaw	Georges Pelat	Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Leopold Wildenstein was a French art dealer and scholar, as well as a leading thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder....
1980	Paiute	7	Dominique Costard	Jack Barbe	Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Leopold Wildenstein was a French art dealer and scholar, as well as a leading thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder....
1981	Bison Fute	5	Dominique Costard	Jacques de Chevigny	Mrs Jean Couturié
1982	World Citizen	5	Noel Péguy	Patrick Rago	Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Leopold Wildenstein was a French art dealer and scholar, as well as a leading thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder....
1983	Melinoir	5	Denis Bailliez	Jack Barbe	Francis Wintz
1984	Dawn Run Dawn Run Dawn Run was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was the most successful racemare in the history of National Hunt racing. She won the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham racing festival in 1984 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup over fences at the festival in 1986. Dawn Run was the only racehorse to have...	6	Tony Mullins	Paddy Mullins Paddy Mullins Paddy Mullins was an Irish racehorse trainer in a career which spanned fifty two years.His first winner was Flash Parade, which won the 1953 La Touche at Punchestown...	Charmian Hill
1985	Le Rheusois	5	Roger Duchêne	Patrick Rago	Claude Ouyoucef
1986	Le Rheusois	6	Denis Leblond	Patrick Rago	Claude Ouyoucef
1987	Claude le Lorrain	8	Patrick-Alain Sauvat	Loïc Audon	André Bergalet
1988	Goodea	8	Béatrice Marie	Jean-Paul Gallorini	Prosper Elmoznino
1989	Sire Rochelais	5	Loïc Manceau	Guy Chérel	Jean-Claude Evain
1990	Tongan	7	Dominique Vincent	Gérard Collet	Wladimir Nikolic
1991	Rose or No	7	Vincent Sartori	Philippe Demercastel	Ecurie Jules Ouaki
1992	Ubu III	6	Adam Kondrat	François Doumen François Doumen François Doumen is a French racehorse trainer currently based at Boucé, Orne. From 1956 to 1970 he was an amateur jockey, and he then worked as an assistant trainer to his father Jean. He obtained his own training licence in 1977....	Marquesa de Moratalla
1993	Ubu III	7	Adam Kondrat	François Doumen François Doumen François Doumen is a French racehorse trainer currently based at Boucé, Orne. From 1956 to 1970 he was an amateur jockey, and he then worked as an assistant trainer to his father Jean. He obtained his own training licence in 1977....	Marquesa de Moratalla
1994	Le Roi Thibault	5	Yannick Fouin	Georges Doleuze	Haras du Reuilly
1995	Matchou	6	Didier Mescam	Jean Lesbordes	Muriel Montauban
1996	Earl Grant	7	Jean-Yves Beaurain	Bernard Sécly Bernard Secly Bernard Secly is a horse trainer in Thoroughbred flat racing and most notably in steeplechase racing.Secly won five Group One flat races but is best known for his conditioning two French Horse Racing Hall of Fame steeplechase horses, Katko and Al Capone II.-External links:*...	Louis Gautier
1997	Bog Frog	8	Jean-Yves Beaurain	Bernard Sécly Bernard Secly Bernard Secly is a horse trainer in Thoroughbred flat racing and most notably in steeplechase racing.Secly won five Group One flat races but is best known for his conditioning two French Horse Racing Hall of Fame steeplechase horses, Katko and Al Capone II.-External links:*...	Mrs David Scarisbrick
1998	Mantovo	6	François Benech	Marcel Rolland	Frank McNulty
1999	Vaporetto	6	Thierry Majorcryk	Jean-Paul Gallorini	Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Wildenstein Daniel Leopold Wildenstein was a French art dealer and scholar, as well as a leading thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder....
2000	Le Sauvignon	6	Dominique Bressou	J. Bertran de Balanda	David J. Jackson
2001	Le Sauvignon	7	Dominique Bressou	J. Bertran de Balanda	David J. Jackson
2002	Laveron	7	Thierry Doumen	François Doumen François Doumen François Doumen is a French racehorse trainer currently based at Boucé, Orne. From 1956 to 1970 he was an amateur jockey, and he then worked as an assistant trainer to his father Jean. He obtained his own training licence in 1977....	Dirk Grauert
2003	Nobody Told Me	5	David Casey	Willie Mullins Willie Mullins Willie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...	Amber Syndicate
2004	Rule Supreme	8	David Casey	Willie Mullins Willie Mullins Willie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...	John J. Fallon
2005	Lycaon de Vauzelle	6	Boris Chameraud	J. Bertran de Balanda	Francis Wintz
2006	Mid Dancer	5	Christophe Pieux	Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé	Sean Mulryan
2007	Zaiyad	6	Jacques Ricou	Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé	Sean Mulryan
2008	Oeil du Maitre	6	Steven Colas	Jean-Paul Gallorini	Alexandrine Berger
2009	Questarabad	5	Regis Schmidlin	Marcel Rolland	Mrs Roger Polani
2010	Mandali	6	Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon is a Belgian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Career:Raised in a horse racing family, he is the son of a horse jumping jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon. Christophe Soumillon apprenticed at Chantilly Racecourse in Chantilly, France to Cédric Boutin, and won his first race in...	Jean-Paul Gallorini	Ecurie Zingaro
2011	Thousand Stars	7	Ruby Walsh Ruby Walsh Ruby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...	Willie Mullins Willie Mullins Willie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...	Hammer & Trowel Syndicate

Earlier winners

* Mr Quilp finished first in 1902 but was disqualified.
* Porthos finished first in 1938 but was relegated to third place following a Stewards' Inquiry.