Allez France

Background

Allez France was a bay mare bred in Kentucky by Bieber-Jacobs Stable. She became his first important horse owned by the French art dealer Daniel Wildenstein and the spur for his substantial investment in racehorses and bloodstock. For his horses in France, Wildenstein operated Dayton Investments Limited. For those in the United States, he owned the Allez France Stables.

Racing Career

During her racing career from age two to five, Allez France was the pre-eminent filly in France, rivaled only by Dahlia (in six meetings however, Allez France was never beaten by Dahlia). In 1974, under new trainer Angel Penna, Sr., she went undefeated and won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, France's most prestigious horse race. She was crowned French Horse of the Year. See

As a six-year-old, Allez France was sent to race in the United States but, as was the case in other races outside France, she did not do well. In 1976, she was retired as a broodmare to Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky.

Achievement and assessment

Allez France was the first filly in Thoroughbred horse racing history to earn $1 million, according to the United States National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. However, Sports Illustrated says that Dahlia was "the first filly to win $1 million (just before Allez did it)", and the U.S. National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame contradicts itself by saying that Dahlia was "the first female Thoroughbred to earn $1 million."

Breeding record

Allez France was the dam of the successful sire Air De France (1984–2004), who sired 11 stakes winners with a total of 34 stakes wins.

After her death, Allez France was honored by being buried next to Man O' War and other greats at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington, Kentucky.