Ghislaine Head, owner-breeder and matriarch of France's famous training dynasty, died on Thursday, June 1 at the age of 95. The news was first reported by Jour de Galop.
The wife of Alec Head, who died a year ago, Ghislaine was represented on the racecourse by, among others, the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Three Troikas (Fr) (Lyphard), who was trained by her daughter Christiane (Criquette) and ridden to victory by her son Freddy, who was later a successful trainer in his own right.
Alec and Ghislaine Head bought Haras du Quesnay just outside Deauville in 1958 and set about making it into one the country's most famous breeding and stallion operations, with its resident sires over the decades including Le Fabuleux (Fr), Anabaa, Highest Honor (Fr), and the homebred Bering (GB), who was another to race in Head's colours to win the 1986 Prix du Jockey Club.
Paying tribute to her mother in JDG, Criquette Head said, “Mum and Dad were an incredible pair. If Dad took care of the horses, Mum managed all the administrative aspects, in Chantilly as in Quesnay, which was not an easy task, and relations with customers.
“She was a woman of character, very active, undoubtedly ahead of her time. She was also the real pillar of the family…She has always supported us, her children. She has done more than raise us, I would say that she has elevated us.”
Christopher Head, grandson of Alec and Ghislaine, is the trainer of the favourite for Sunday's Prix du Jockey Club, Big Rock (Fr).
Ghislaine Head is survived by her children Freddy, Criquette, Martine, and Patricia, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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