Star jockey at the end of the 1990s, Christophe Pieux left his mark on obstacle races, both in Auteuil and throughout France, where he won all the Groups (the toughest events) that exist in obstacle. At 57 years old, the man who ended his career on October 31, 2012 remains as passionate about the horse racing world as ever. 48-hour interview of the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris 2024.
What is your daily life now?
CHRISTOPHE PIEUX. Two and a half years ago, I opened my restaurant in Lamorlaye in Oise, and everything is going well. I am lucky to have regular visits from my racing friends, and it is often an opportunity to remember good memories of the past. Franck Nivard, Guillaume Gillot, Jean-Michel Bazire, Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé, Yannick Fouin, to name a few, have come to see me in recent weeks, and it is always a pleasure to receive them. Despite a busy schedule, I always try to follow the races. Moreover, on Sunday, I will probably be present at the Auteuil racecourse to attend the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris.
In fact, you had the opportunity to win this event three times with Line Marine in 2003, Sleeping Jack in 2005 and Remember Rose in 2009. What is your best memory?
On the trot, the drivers dream of the Prix d’Amérique, on the flat it’s the Arc de Triomphe, and on the obstacle course, the holy grail remains the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. I’ve been lucky enough to win it three times and it’s hard to pick out one victory. With Line Marine, the emotion was strong, because it was a first. In 2005, I won for my boss Jacques Ortet with Sleeping Jack, and I must admit to having ridden the race of my life, because he was not a Group I horse and he did not have a first chance beforehand. , but he managed to achieve the feat. It was a great memory, because he wore the jacket of Raoul Temam, a person I really like.
Paris (16th century), Sunday May 29, 2005. The joy of Christophe Pieux after his success in the Grand Steeple-Chase of Paris with Sleeping Jack.
“When I return to the scales, my boot is filled with blood”
Your success in 2009 also left its mark…
I’m in the saddle on Remember Rose. My foot hits the list in the line opposite, and I immediately feel the pain, but with the adrenaline and the desire to give everything, I manage to lead my horse to success. When I return to the scales, my boot is full of blood, and I warn the doctors that I can no longer put my foot on the ground. I suffered from a compound fracture and a severed tendon, so I had no choice but to head to the hospital.
And your worst memory in this Group I?
Without hesitation the 2000 edition during which I am associated with my favorite horse Or Jack, aged 11 years. I took the best after jumping the last hurdle, and we were finally beaten at the post by Vieux Beaufai, who finished strong on the outside. It’s the worst nightmare of my life, and more than 20 years later, I think about this disillusionment very regularly. Now Jack was a super horse who won by less than 34 races in his career. It shone on several tracks in France but also in Italy, where I had the opportunity to win great events in Merano and Milan.
