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. It is currently held on the same day as the Prix de Diane.
Read more about this topic: Prix Du Lys
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