Field set for 400,000€ Prix de Paris marathon race

Sixteen harness racing trotteurs are engaged to the Prix de Paris (Gr. I International, purse 400,000€, 4150 meters (2.57 miles) volte start, the Marathon Race) this Sunday, February 25 at Paris-Vincennes in France.

Last year’s winner Ampia Mede SM is back to defend her title with Franck Nivard up for trainer Fabrice Souloy. Hooker Berry, the 2023 Amerique winner and third in the Marathon Race is back in this field with Nicolas Bazire driving.

Hokkaido Jiel and Izoard Vedaquais are also likely main players in this third jewel of the France Triple Crown. The speed record is 1.13.3kr set by Diable de Vauvert in 2022 followed by 1.13.5kr by Up And Quick in 2015.

The 16 starters

It was necessary to resort to an elimination on Thursday to finalize the list of the maximum 16 possible starters. It was Deus Zack (Victor Gio), the least wealthy of the entries, who was unable to make the final cast.
Prix de Paris Marathon Race
Group 1 – 400.000 € – 4.150 metres (long track)
1. It’s A Dollarmaker (D4) – E. Raffin
2. Always Ek (D4) – A. Gocciadoro
3. Fakir de Mahey (D4) – M. Mottier
4. Hip Hop Haufor (D4) – Ch. Bigeon
5. Ganay de Banville (D4) – J.-M. Bazire
6. Inmarosa (D4) – Léo Abrivard
7. Missle Hill (D4) – M. Abrivard
8. Hussar du Landret (D4) – Y. Lebourgeois
9. Elvis du Vallon (F4) – Ch. Cuiller
10. Izoard Védaquais (F4) – B. Rochard
11. Hokkaido Jiel (D4) – D. Thomain
12. Moni Viking (D4) – B. Goop
13. Power (D4) – R. Bergh
14. Diable de Vauvert (D4 – B. The Beller
15. Ampia Mede Sm (D4) – F. Nivard
16. Hooker Berry (D4) – N. Bazire

There have been three triple winners of the Paris Prize – Bellino II, Vourasie and Jardy in 2005-2007. Double winners include Ime de Mai, Up And Quick and Belina Josselyn. The USA bred winners have been Timothy T and Apex Hanover. The 4150 meters Marathon distance was established in 1994 when the distance was lengthened from 3400 meters.

The Paris Prize winners from 2009-2023 are shown below.

LeTrot, Cheval Francias, Paris-Vincennes, Wikipedia files/photos-harness racing trots

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink