Jean Massard
Jean Massard
Jean Massard
1932-2018
1932-2018
Born on 13 January 1932, Jean Charles Eugene Massard was a leading French jockey in the 1950s and 60s. He became apprenticed to Antoine Monnat and, on October 15 1948, rode his first winner, landing the Prix de Longiumeau from another good apprentice, Willy Kalley. On August 18, 1950, Jean turned professional thanks to his 40th victory in the saddle; it was this year that he also rode his first Group 1 winner, Kilette, trained by Alec Head.
Born on 13 January 1932, Jean Charles Eugene Massard was a leading French jockey in the 1950s and 60s. He became apprenticed to Antoine Monnat and, on October 15 1948, rode his first winner, landing the Prix de Longiumeau from another good apprentice, Willy Kalley. On August 18, 1950, Jean turned professional thanks to his 40th victory in the saddle; it was this year that he also rode his first Group 1 winner, Kilette, trained by Alec Head.
He rode in eighteen consecutive Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes between 1951 and 1968, his best effort coming when finishing third on Cherasco in 1958. He recorded his greatest success on Le Fabluleux in the 1964 Prix de Jockey Club (French Derby).
He rode in eighteen consecutive Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes between 1951 and 1968, his best effort coming when finishing third on Cherasco in 1958. He recorded his greatest success on Le Fabluleux in the 1964 Prix de Jockey Club (French Derby).
He rode a total of eight winners in England between 1953 and 1958, the first two coming on Pierre Wertheimer’s filly Noemi in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom, and Mme Leon Volterra’s Le Vent in the Churchill Stakes at Ascot.
He rode a total of eight winners in England between 1953 and 1958, the first two coming on Pierre Wertheimer’s filly Noemi in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom, and Mme Leon Volterra’s Le Vent in the Churchill Stakes at Ascot.
He won the 1954 Lincolnshire Handicap on Nahar, trained by Alec Head, and the 1955 Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket on Cobetto, trained by Charles Semblat. Both horses were owned by Prince Aly Khan. In 1956 he won Sandown Park’s Coronation Stakes on Tribord, owned by Mrs Daniel Wildenstein and trained by Serge Boulanger, beating the 11-4 on favourite Durante by a head.
He won the 1954 Lincolnshire Handicap on Nahar, trained by Alec Head, and the 1955 Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket on Cobetto, trained by Charles Semblat. Both horses were owned by Prince Aly Khan. In 1956 he won Sandown Park’s Coronation Stakes on Tribord, owned by Mrs Daniel Wildenstein and trained by Serge Boulanger, beating the 11-4 on favourite Durante by a head.
In 1957 he rode two Alec Head-trained horses to win what are now Group 1 races, namely the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on the Aga Khan’s filly Toro, the 3-1 favourite, beating Irish raider Angelet by four lengths, and Newmarket’s Champion Stakes on Prince Aly Khan’s filly Rose Royale II, on whom he had finished third in that year’s Oaks.
In 1957 he rode two Alec Head-trained horses to win what are now Group 1 races, namely the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on the Aga Khan’s filly Toro, the 3-1 favourite, beating Irish raider Angelet by four lengths, and Newmarket’s Champion Stakes on Prince Aly Khan’s filly Rose Royale II, on whom he had finished third in that year’s Oaks.
His last victory in England came in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom’s Spring Meeting in 1958 aboard 9-4 favourite Princess Lora, also owned by Prince Aly Khan and trained by Alec Head, winning by a neck from Lester Piggott on Persian Wheel.
His last victory in England came in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom’s Spring Meeting in 1958 aboard 9-4 favourite Princess Lora, also owned by Prince Aly Khan and trained by Alec Head, winning by a neck from Lester Piggott on Persian Wheel.
In 1986, at the age of 54, Jean Massard quit the saddle,
In 1986, at the age of 54, Jean Massard quit the saddle,
Jean Massard’s eight English winners were:
Jean Massard’s eight English winners were:
21 April 1953: Princess Elizabeth Stakes, Epsom - Noemi
21 April 1953: Princess Elizabeth Stakes, Epsom - Noemi
20 June 1953: Churchill Stakes, Ascot – Le Vent
20 June 1953: Churchill Stakes, Ascot – Le Vent
24 March 1954: Lincolnshire Handicap, Lincoln – Nahar
24 March 1954: Lincolnshire Handicap, Lincoln – Nahar
30 June 1955: Princess of Wales’s Stakes, Newmarket – Cobetto
30 June 1955: Princess of Wales’s Stakes, Newmarket – Cobetto
28 April 1956: Coronation Stakes, Sandown Park – Tribord
28 April 1956: Coronation Stakes, Sandown Park – Tribord
19 June 1957: Coronation Stakes, Royal Ascot – Toro
19 June 1957: Coronation Stakes, Royal Ascot – Toro
17 October 1957: Champion Stakes, Newmarket, - Rose Royale II
17 October 1957: Champion Stakes, Newmarket, - Rose Royale II
24 April 1958: Princess Elizabeth Stakes, Epsom – Princess Lora
24 April 1958: Princess Elizabeth Stakes, Epsom – Princess Lora
Jean recorded his greatest success on Le Fabluleux (above) in the 1964 Prix de Jockey Club (French Derby).
Jean recorded his greatest success on Le Fabluleux (above) in the 1964 Prix de Jockey Club (French Derby).
24 March 1954: Lincolnshire Handicap, Lincoln – Nahar
24 March 1954: Lincolnshire Handicap, Lincoln – Nahar