Christophe Clement

Christophe Clement
Clement in a Paddock at Payson Park, Indiantown, Florida.
Occupation	Thoroughbred Horse Trainer
Born	(1965-11-01) November 1, 1965 (age 58) Paris, France
Career wins	2,500+ (ongoing)
Major racing wins
United States Grade I: Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf – Pizza Bianca (2021) Sword Dancer Stakes - Honor Glide (1999),Winchester (2011),Gufo (2021, 2022), Far Bridge (2024) Summer Stakes - Carson’s Run (2023) Belmont Derby - Gufo (2020) Saratoga Derby - Carson’s Run (2024) Frizette Stakes - Yellow Agate (2016) Jockey Club Gold Cup - Tonalist (2015) Gamely - Hard Not To Like (2015) Diana Handicap - Hard Not To Like (2015) Cigar Mile Handicap - Tonalist (2015) Belmont Stakes - Tonalist (2014) Jockey Club Gold Cup - Tonalist (2014) Del Mar Oaks - Discreet Marq (2013) Shadwell Turf Mile - Gio Ponti (2011) Manhattan Handicap -(3)- Winchester (2010) Man o' War Stakes - Gio Ponti (2010) Shadwell Turf Mile - Gio Ponti (2010) Turf Classic - Winchester (2010) Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap - Gio Ponti (2009) Garden City Breeders' Cup Handicap -Miss World (2009) Man o' War Stakes - Gio Ponti (2009) Coaching Club American Oaks - Funny Moon (2009) Manhattan Handicap -(3)- Gio Ponti (2009) Arlington Million - Gio Ponti (2009) Beverly D. Stakes - (3) - Mauralakana (2008) Beverly D. Stakes - (3) - Royal Highness (2007) Bing Crosby Handicap - In Summation (2007) Del Mar Oaks - Rutherienne (2007) Diana Handicap - Voodoo Dancer (2003) Garden City Breeders' Cup Handicap -Voodoo Dancer (2001) Manhattan Handicap -(3)- Forbidden Apple (2001) Beverly D. Stakes - (3) - England's Legend (2001) Diana Handicap - Rumpipumpy GR II (1997) Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes - Danish (1994) Canada Grade I: E.P. Taylor Stakes - Mutamakina (2021) Summer Stakes - Decorated Invader (2019) Canadian International Stakes - Relaxed Gesture (2005) "Trainer of Pure Sensation inducted in the Parx Hall of Fame ( 2021 )" "Trainer of 2011 Eclipse awards winner" "Gio Ponti: American Champion Male Turf Horse 2010" "Trainer of 2010 Eclipse awards winner in two divisions" "Gio Ponti: American Champion Male Turf Horse 2009" "Gio Ponti: American Champion Older male Horse 2009" "Leading trainer 2022 New-York Bred" "Leading trainer 2020 Aqueduct fall meet" "Leading trainer 2010 Keeneland spring meet"

Christophe Clement (born November 1, 1965, in Paris, France) is a Thoroughbred horse trainer in the United States who won the 2014 Belmont Stakes with Tonalist.

Racing background

Clement initially acquired his training skills from his father, Miguel, a leading trainer in France. Christophe later worked for the prominent French racing family of trainer Alec Head. In the United States, Christophe studied under Hall Of Fame conditioner Shug McGaughey before returning to Europe to work as assistant to trainer Luca Cumani in Newmarket, England.

Racing career

Christophe's first winner was the first horse he saddled, Spectaculaire, at Belmont Park in 1991. Since then, he has been a prolific force in graded stakes around the country including wins with Trampoli, Danish winner of the 1994 Queen Elizabeth II stakes at Keeneland, Voodoo Dancer, Blu Tusmani, Relaxed Gesture, Flag Down, Statesmanship, Coretta, Honor Glide, Dedication, Dynever, Forbidden Apple, and England's Legend who won the Beverly D. in 2001. He had a repeat win in the 2007 Beverly D. with Royal Highness. Other highlights of 2007 were stakes winners Meribel, Gio Ponti, Revved Up, Naissance Royale, Vacare, In Summation, and Rutherienne who won six stakes, among them five graded victories.

Christophe Clement Racing Stable has yielded more than $177 million in purses in 2024, over 250 graded stakes wins, over 440 all black type races, and over 2,500 wins. He celebrated his 1000th win in December 2008 and his 2,000th in 2020. Clement trained Gio Ponti who won two Eclipse Awards in 2010 and 2011. In 2014, he won the Belmont Stakes and twice the Jockey Club Gold Cup with Tonalist as well as the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar with Pizza Bianca in 2021.

Personal life

He and his wife, Valerie, have a son, Miguel Clement who is working with the stable after graduating from Duke University and the Darley Flying Start, as well as a daughter, Charlotte Clement Collins and a grandson, Hugo Collins.