Jacques Wertheimer
Encyclopedia
Jacques Guy Wertheimer was a prominent French
businessman who inherited and ran the renowned House of Chanel
perfume
company. Jacques Wertheimer was born at the villa Les Forgettes in Deauville
, the son of Germaine Revel and businessman Pierre Wertheimer
who co-founded the Chanel perfume business in 1924.
On March 26, 1947, Jacques Wertheimer married Eliane Fischer, the daughter of an architect
. They had two sons, Alain
and Gerard
. The marriage was short-lived, and after separating, their divorce decree was issued on September 11, 1952.
horse racing
operation which he developed into one of the leading stables in France. Alec Head
trained
for the family until his retirement in 1984 but for a number of years continued to act as their bloodstock advisor. Head's daughter Criquette
took over as trainer and continued to have great success.
In the 1970s, Jacques Wertheimer boarded his Kentucky-based bloodstock at Hagyard Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. Among his broodmares were the French classic winners Dancing Maid, Gold River
and Pistol Packer. All three are buried at Hagyard Farm.
Selected Group One
race wins:
On his death, his business empire was taken over by his two sons.
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...
businessman who inherited and ran the renowned House of Chanel
Chanel
Chanel S.A. is a French fashion house founded by the couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, well established in haute couture, specializing in luxury goods . She gained the name "Coco" while maintaining a career as a singer at a café in France...
perfume
Perfume
Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and/or aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, animals, objects, and living spaces "a pleasant scent"...
company. Jacques Wertheimer was born at the villa Les Forgettes in Deauville
Deauville
Deauville is a commune in the Calvados département in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.With its racecourse, harbour, international film festival, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino and sumptuous hotels, Deauville is regarded as the "queen of the Norman beaches" and...
, the son of Germaine Revel and businessman Pierre Wertheimer
Pierre Wertheimer
Pierre Wertheimer was a French businessman.In October 1910, Pierre Wertheimer married Germaine Revel, a daughter of a stockbroker and a member of the Lazard family of investment bankers....
who co-founded the Chanel perfume business in 1924.
On March 26, 1947, Jacques Wertheimer married Eliane Fischer, the daughter of an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
. They had two sons, Alain
Alain Wertheimer
Alain Wertheimer is a Jewish French businessman based in France who, with his brother Gerard own the controlling interest in the House of Chanel. The son of Jacques Wertheimer and Eliane Fischer, it was his grandfather Pierre who co-founded the Chanel business...
and Gerard
Gerard Wertheimer
Gerard Wertheimer is a Jewish French businessman based in France who owns and controls the House of Chanel perfume company in partnership with his brother, Alain....
. The marriage was short-lived, and after separating, their divorce decree was issued on September 11, 1952.
Thoroughbred horse racing
Jacques Wertheimer inherited a thoroughbredThoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse racing
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...
operation which he developed into one of the leading stables in France. Alec Head
Alec Head
Alec Head was a prominent French horseman and breeder and the owner of Haras du Quesnay near Deauville. A descendant of the great trainers who founded the English Racing Colony in Chantilly, Oise, Head's grandfather was a jockey-turned-trainer, as was his father William Head who was a very...
trained
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...
for the family until his retirement in 1984 but for a number of years continued to act as their bloodstock advisor. Head's daughter Criquette
Criquette Head-Maarek
Christiane "Criquette" Head is considered to be the leading female racehorse trainer in the world.Known as Criquette, she was born into the Thoroughbred horse racing business...
took over as trainer and continued to have great success.
In the 1970s, Jacques Wertheimer boarded his Kentucky-based bloodstock at Hagyard Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. Among his broodmares were the French classic winners Dancing Maid, Gold River
Gold River (horse)
Gold River was a French Thoroughbred filly racehorse best known for winning France's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Owned and bred by Jacques Wertheimer, the president of the renowned French perfumery, Chanel, Gold River was sired by Riverman, owned by Germaine Wertheimer...
and Pistol Packer. All three are buried at Hagyard Farm.
Selected Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
race wins:
- Coronation StakesCoronation StakesThe Coronation Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
: Gold Splash (1993) - Critérium de Saint-CloudCritérium de Saint-CloudThe Critérium de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in November....
: Poliglote (1994) - Poule d'Essai des PoulainsPoule d'Essai des PoulainsThe Poule d'Essai des Poulains, sometimes referred to as the French 2,000 Guineas, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts...
: Green DancerGreen DancerGreen Dancer was a French Thoroughbred racehorse. A son of the great English Triple Crown winner, Nijinsky, he was bred in Kentucky by Germaine Wertheimer of Paris, France who owned his dam, Green Valley....
(1975), Red Lord (1976), Green Tune (1994) - Poule d'Essai des PoulichesPoule d'Essai des PoulichesThe Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, sometimes referred to as the French 1,000 Guineas, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
: IvanjicaIvanjica (horse)Ivanjica was a French Thoroughbred racehorse foaled at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky. A descendant of Nearco, she was sired by Epsom Derby winner Sir Ivor and out of the mare Astuce by the important French sire, Vieux Manoir who in turn was a son of the great French runner Brantôme...
(1975), Dancing Maid (1978) - Prix de l'Arc de TriomphePrix de l'Arc de TriompheThe 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...
: Ivanjica (1976), Gold RiverGold River (horse)Gold River was a French Thoroughbred filly racehorse best known for winning France's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Owned and bred by Jacques Wertheimer, the president of the renowned French perfumery, Chanel, Gold River was sired by Riverman, owned by Germaine Wertheimer...
(1981) - Prix de l'OpéraPrix de l'OpéraThe Prix de l'Opéra is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.The event was established in 1974, and it was...
: Mona Stella (1987), Athyka (1988, 1989) - Prix d'IspahanPrix d'IspahanThe Prix d'Ispahan is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,850 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
: Carwhite (1978), Green Tune (1995) - Prix du Jockey ClubPrix du Jockey ClubThe Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
: Val de l'Orne (1975) - Prix Marcel BoussacPrix Marcel BoussacThe Prix Marcel Boussac is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October....
: Gold Splash (1992) - Prix Royal-OakPrix Royal-OakThe Prix Royal-Oak 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 3,100 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October.-History:The event was established in 1861, and it was initially...
: Gold River (1980), Agent Double (1984) - Prix Saint-AlaryPrix Saint-AlaryThe Prix Saint-Alary is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
: Reine de Saba (1978), Rivière d'Or (1988) - Prix VermeillePrix VermeilleThe Prix Vermeille is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares 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 in September.-History:The event was established in 1897, and it...
: Ivanjica (1975), Dancing Maid (1978)
On his death, his business empire was taken over by his two sons.