Yves Saint-Martin

Who is Yves Saint-Martin?

Yves Saint-Martin is a retired champion jockey in French Thoroughbred horse racing. He is widely considered one of the greatest riders in French racing history.

Saint-Martin won his first race on 26 July 1958 for Mme Suzy Volterra. He went on to be France leading jockey fifteen times, winning the tile in 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, and 1983.

In his career, Yves Saint-Martin won 3314 races worldwide of which 3275 were in France. He is tied with three others for most wins at four in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and holds the record for most wins in several other Group One races including the Prix du Jockey Club with nine.

At Laurel Park Racecourse near Baltimore, Maryland, Saint-Martin won the 1962 Washington, D.C. International aboard Match II defeating both Carry Back and the great Kelso.

He won the French "Academie des sports" award Prix Claude Foussier in 1971.