History
The event is considered to be France's oldest surviving horse race. It was established in 1807, and was originally called the Grand Prix. The first version was contested over two circuits of the Champ de Mars, a distance of 4,000 metres.
The race was renamed the Grand Prix Royal in 1834. It was held at Chantilly in 1846. It became known as the Grand Prix National in 1848, and the Grand Prix Impérial in 1853.
The Grand Prix Impérial was transferred to Longchamp and increased to 6,000 metres in 1857. It was retitled the Grand Prix de l'Empereur and extended to 6,200 metres in 1861. This distance, about 3 miles and 7 furlongs, was maintained for almost a century.
The race was renamed in honour of Gladiateur, a notable previous winner, in 1869. The newly-titled Prix Gladiateur was cancelled because of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.
The race took place at Chantilly in 1906. It was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1914 to 1918. It was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. It was staged at Le Tremblay in 1943 and 1944.
The Prix Gladiateur was cut to 4,800 metres in 1955. It was shortened to 4,000 metres in 1977, and to 3,100 metres in 1991.
Read more about this topic: Prix Gladiateur
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