Prix Exbury - History

History

The event was originally called the Prix Boiard. It was named after Boiard, a successful racehorse in the 1870s. It was established in 1891, and initially run at Maisons-Laffitte over 2,000 metres. It was open to horses aged three or older.

The race was renamed in memory of Eugène Adam (1840–1904), a former president of the Société Sportive d'Encouragement, in 1905. It reverted to its original title when the present Prix Eugène Adam was given its name in 1911.

The Prix Boiard was abandoned from 1915 to 1918. It was contested at Saint-Cloud over 2,100 metres in 1919. It returned to Maisons-Laffitte in 1920, and began a longer spell at Saint-Cloud in 1929. Its distance was 2,100 metres in 1931 and 1932.

The event was held at Longchamp from 1940 to 1942. It was run at Le Tremblay over 2,150 metres in 1943, and Maisons-Laffitte over 2,200 metres in 1944 and 1945. It returned to Saint-Cloud in 1946.

The race was won by a horse called Exbury in 1963, and it was renamed in his honour in 1969. From this point it was closed to three-year-olds. It was given Group 3 status in 1971.

The Prix Exbury is usually Europe's first Group race of the year.

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