The Prix de Diane is the yearly French prestigious Group 1 flat horse race open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is held on the lovely grounds of the Chantilly Chateau in Chantilly and it is the equivalent of England’s famous Epsom Oaks Horse Race. The distance is 2,100 meters or about one mile and two and a half furlongs.
The Prix de Diane was established in 1843, and was originally restricted to horses born and bred in France. It has continued without interruptions except for the Franco-Prussian War, World War I and World War II. Amazingly it is was not cancelled during the Revolution of 1848, but was simply moved to Versailles.
This year more than 46,000 spectators made the journey to Chantilly for this annual event. The grounds were transformed into a splendid, giant garden party with a vast expanse of fancy baskets, delicacies, champagne flutes and candelabras. The imagination of the picnic goers is delightful to behold and yet they are completely surpassed in imagination by the parade of hats. You will not be an integral part of the festivities if you do not attend with a “joli chapeau”.
Julien Doré was this year’s featured musical artist playing rock and roll for the spectators. He is the 5th winner of the French reality TV show “La nouvelle star” (“French Idol”) and he plays the guitar and the ukulele. Julien is based in Paris and writes fantasy love songs perfect for this whimsical setting. (He is also the great-great-great-nephew of Gustave Doré, a well-known french illustrator of the 19th century.)
The “Village Diane” was speckled with little merry-go-rounds that offered food, wine, champagne and most certainly hats! There was also a very real merry-go-round. Most spectators choose the village area in the center of the course. This offered an inviting and roomy space for the elaborate picnics, tables, children and hat watchers. For the best viewing of the race, the Grand-Stand area was the preferential spot.
