In the 1980s, the Prix d’Amérique had the supremacy of an outstanding horse, an exceptional champion with astonishing charisma and incredible longevity. Ourasi will become the record-horse of victories and the eternal icon of Trotting History.
The 80s :
This decade marks the control of the French trotters in the Prix d’Amérique since it is the only one during which no trotter born outside France has managed to dominate the tricolors on the track of Vincennes, which will no longer happen in The following decades. Ideal du Gazeau and Ourasi are the two heroes of the time.
IDEAL DU GAZEAU:
Ideal du Gazeau, the “Petit Bonhomme” as well as his nickname his trainer / driver Eugène Lefèvre for his modest size, won a second crown in the Prix d’Amérique 1983. It thus punctuates an exceptional record, constituted on most of the great racecourses of the whole world. He managed to dominate the Americans, Italians and Scandinavians on their own land, which earned him an extraordinary popularity due in large part to his courage and speed on the track and the modesty of his coach / driver.
OURASI:
And then in 1986 came Ourasi… The chestnut turned legend, whose bronze statue now towers his successors along the track of Vincennes Hippodrome de Paris. He who made his predecessors forget, and bend his opponents almost every time. He won his first Prix d’Amérique in 1986, easily restraining the speed of the very swift Mon Tourbillon, then retained his title the following two years, thus gaining the status of star. “Only” third in 1989 of Queila Gédé led by his metronome trainer Roger Baudron, Ourasi resumes his scepter the following year for his final participation, under the rule of Michel-Marcel Gougeon who had to replace his brother, Jean-René, victim of a heart attack. Unfortunately, the latter will not be seen again on the track, he who remains the record holder of the victories in the Prix d’Amérique: 8, to the sulky of the mythical Roquépine, two victories, and Bellino II and Ourasi with which he imposed himself three times each.
At that time, the heart of the public was beating for Ourasi, nicknamed the Lazy King because of his tendency never to be employed elsewhere than in the race. So much so that before the 1989 race, under the eyes of the President of the Republic François Mitterrand, the public – and the whole of France – held its breath: Ourasi did not urinate. For this reason, perhaps, the phenomenon will know its only defeat in the queen event, a third place – behind Queila Gédé and Potin d’Amour – who at that time made a lot of ink and saliva.
(Source: Turfcom)
