Legion d'Honneur just reward for one of French training's all-time greats
Scott Burton hails rare recognition from the state for Alain de Royer-Dupre
Knights in the realm of horseracing are hardly two a penny, and news that Alain de Royer-Dupre has been made a chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur confirmed a rare piece of recognition when it comes to France.
Royer-Dupre, 78, retired at the end of 2021 after a long and illustrious career marked by 92 Group 1 wins worldwide, most famously from the likes of Dalakhani, Zarkava, Pride and Chicquita, having taken over as principal trainer to the Aga Khan following the death of Francois Mathet in 1983.
Renowned as an excellent judge of a horse and a trainer of great patience, Royer-Dupre has been an excellent ambassador on his travels around the world, dating back to Lashkari's shock victory under Yves Saint-Martin in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Turf at Hollywood Park in 1984. Few major French figures will have as many friends and admirers outside his own country.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inComment
Last updated
Copy- We know that times are tight - but racecourses really do need to step up and improve outdated weighing rooms
- The budget has heaped even more trouble on racing - and I fear many trainers will now decide the numbers just don't add up
- Why I think Cheltenham Festival handicaps need to change - JP McManus writes exclusively for the Racing Post
- No-one has ever emerged from the womb wearing a trilby - racing's future survival hangs on pursuing a young audience
- Four score and ten just a number to Peter Harris as July Cup triumph shows there's more to the elderly than medical conditions
- We know that times are tight - but racecourses really do need to step up and improve outdated weighing rooms
- The budget has heaped even more trouble on racing - and I fear many trainers will now decide the numbers just don't add up
- Why I think Cheltenham Festival handicaps need to change - JP McManus writes exclusively for the Racing Post
- No-one has ever emerged from the womb wearing a trilby - racing's future survival hangs on pursuing a young audience
- Four score and ten just a number to Peter Harris as July Cup triumph shows there's more to the elderly than medical conditions