Chantilly (France) / St. Imier (Switzerland), 14 June 2015 – The Prix de Diane Longines, the world’s top race for fillies, offered an amazing spectacular sporting rendezvous in the unique atmosphere of the Chantilly racecourse. Lanfranco Dettori on Star of Seville won the coveted title of this top-level flat race day in front of more than 45’000 ecstatic spectators. As Title Partner, Official Timekeeper and Official Watch, Longines was proud to be associated with this event, enhanced by the presence of Longines Ambassador of Elegance Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who awarded Sandra Challal with the Mademoiselle Diane par Longines prize for her outstanding style.
On Sunday 14 June, nine flat races including Prix de Diane Longines, the world’s top race for fillies, took place in the Chantilly racecourse and gathered more than 45’000 spectators.
Lanfranco Dettori on Star of Seville finished first at the much awaited Prix de Diane Longines. This exceptional race, renowned as the epitome of feminine elegance, was exceptionally enhanced by Longines Ambassador of Elegance Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. She presented the Mademoiselle Diane par Longines award for elegance during the afternoon to the most stylish woman of the day, Sandra Challal.
As Official Watch, Longines presented a new Longines DolceVita watch cased in steel, decorated with diamonds and featuring a silver-coloured flinqué dial adorned with painted Roman numerals. This model belongs to the famously elegant and feminine Longines DolceVita collection, which was reinterpreted with softened lines. The launch of this renewed collection was celebrated the day before the races at an evening event in the garden of Chantilly Castle.
The association of the Swiss watch brand with this spring’s most hotly-contested Grand Prix is part of its long and strong involvement in equestrian sports. In 1878, it created a chronograph engraved with a jockey and his horse. Seen on the racetracks as early as 1881 and extremely popular among jockeys and horse-lovers, this model enabled its user to time performances to the seconds. Besides, Longines’ know-how in timekeeping began on horse tracks. Therefore the brand associated with the Chantilly Foundation to launch a temporary photography exhibition Turf, which displays the fascinating world of horseraces during the summer in Chantilly’s Grandes Ecuries.
Being also the Official Partner and Official Watch of the International Federation of Gentlemen and Lady Riders (FEGENTRI), Longines was involved in the Prix de La Reine Marie-Amélie Longines. This 2’000-meter race for amateur female jockeys was the 7th of Sunday afternoon and was won with style by Catherine Rieb-Menard on Geonpi.
Finally, the Prix Longines Future Racing Stars supported by the Swiss watch brand offered gifted young jockeys from all over the world to compete against each other. The 2015 future racing star was Tommaso Scardino from German Jockey School on Theo Danon. He received an elegant Longines watch as well as a bursary for his school.
About Longines
Longines has been based at Saint-Imier in Switzerland since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. Longines has generations of experience as official timekeeper of world championships and as partner of international sports federation. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of the Swatch Group Ltd, the World’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in over 140 countries.