Remembering Clement: A tribute to horsemanship

The racing world was saddened by Sunday’s news of the passing of trainer Christophe Clement, 59, from cancer. Widely esteemed for his horsemanship and integrity, Clement has factored on the Hall of Fame ballot for several years now. If his eventual induction appeared to be only a matter of time, it will unfortunately have to come as a posthumous tribute.

Parisian by birth and a New Yorker by choice, Clement was most often associated with turf stars, chief among them three-time Eclipse Award champion Gio Ponti. But he could train top-class dirt performers when given the chance, as illustrated by Tonalist, a four-time Grade 1 hero whose signature win came in the 2014 Belmont (G1).

Like so many of his horses, Clement could be proud of his pedigree. His late father, Miguel, was a successful trainer whose Nelcius captured the 1966 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby). Christophe’s brother Nicolas, who continues to ply the family trade at his Chantilly base, famously won the 1990 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) with Saumarez. 

Clement’s legacy is carried on by his widow, Valerie; son Miguel and daughter-in-law Acacia, well known in her own right as a racing broadcaster; daughter Charlotte and son-in-law Shaun Collins, who gave him a grandchild, Hugo. 

The Clement barn will carry on as well, in a spirit of welcome continuity. Miguel is well prepared to step into the head trainer role, as a Darley Flying Start graduate who has been assisting his father since the fall of 2017. Clement’s longtime assistant Christophe Lorieul, dubbed an “honorary family member” during his 31-year tenure, is also reportedly staying on board. 

Clement himself had a rich education in racing before setting out on his own in 1991. Although he lost his father in 1978, when he was just 12, he learned the craft from such legends as Francois Boutin, Alec Head, Criquette Head, and Luca Cumani in Europe, and Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey stateside.

Clement’s website, clementstable.com, summarized his approach to training:

“As a public trainer, Christophe has acquired a reputation for meticulous attention to detail. He takes pride in the horses under his care and personally trains each of them. The Clement philosophy is to establish a relationship with each of the horses under their care. We prioritize the well-being of each horse, and we respect the rules of racing.”

The statistics prove that the methodology served him well. According to Equibase, Clement runners bankrolled more than $184 million from a grand total of 13,269 starts. He compiled a laudable 19% career strike rate with 2,576 wins, and a 51% in-the-money percentage, while maintaining quality.

Clement won multiple graded stakes, each and every season, for an incredible 34 consecutive years. Passagere de Soir began the sequence in the 1992 Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup H. (G2), the race that’s since evolved into the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1). 

Far Bridge handed Clement his final graded trophy in the May 11 Man o’ War (G2), setting up a potential clash with stablemates Deterministic and Carson’s Run in the June 7 Manhattan (G1) on Belmont Day at Saratoga.

At the Spa last summer, Far Bridge gave Clement a record fifth victory in the Sword Dancer (G1), following Honor Glide (1999), Winchester (2011), and Gufo (2021-22). Winchester was also one of his three Manhattan winners, along with Forbidden Apple (2001) and the superb Gio Ponti (2009). 

A two-time champion turf male, Gio Ponti, also snared an Eclipse as champion older male in 2009 before the award was redefined as a dirt category. The $6.1 million-earner racked up seven Grade 1s over distances ranging from one mile to 1 3/8 miles. He took the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) twice, as well as back-to-back runnings of the Man o’ War, plus an Arlington Million (G1) and Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1). 

In most years, Gio Ponti likely would have added a Breeders’ Cup laurel. But he had the misfortune of colliding with two all-time great racemares at the peak of their powers. Runner-up to Zenyatta in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on the old synthetic surface at Santa Anita, he played second fiddle to Goldikova in the 2010 Mile (G1) at Churchill Downs. 

Clement achieved an overdue Breeders’ Cup victory courtesy of Pizza Bianca in the 2021 Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Del Mar. His other high-profile turf females include three Diana (G1) heroines, notably Voodoo Dancer (2003) and Hard Not to Like (2015) in its Grade 1 guise; a trio of Beverly D. (G1) winners in England’s Legend (2001), Royal Highness (2007), and Mauralakana (2008); Del Mar Oaks (G1) queens Rutherienne (2007) and Discreet Marq; Miss World; Danish, his first Grade 1 winner via the 1994 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1); and Coretta, who went close in the inaugural Filly & Mare Turf (G1) in 1999.

Clement’s conquests extended into Canada, as he plundered Woodbine’s most storied turf events. Relaxed Gesture starred in the 2005 Canadian International (G1), and in 2021, Mutamakina furnished its companion race for distaffers, the E.P. Taylor (G1). Clement won the Summer (G1) twice, thanks to Decorated Invader (2021) and Carson’s Run (2023), who added the lucrative Saratoga Derby (G1) in 2024. 

Although those leading lights were all routers, Clement had smart sprinters too, from Disco Partner and Pure Sensation to Roses for Debra and Big Invasion in recent years. In Summation was a triple-surface operator, but he capitalized on California’s synthetic era to land the 2007 Bing Crosby H. (G1). 

Clement’s marquee dirt performer, Tonalist, amassed more than $3.6 million. Aside from making Clement a classic-winning trainer in the Belmont, Tonalist joined the club of two-time Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) victors. The son of Tapit underscored that he was no plodder when crowning his career in the 2015 Cigar Mile H. (G1).

If Tonalist stands out in the memory, don’t forget $2 million-earner Dynever, the third-placer in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Classic and runner-up in the 2005 Dubai World Cup (G1). Others who flew the Clement flag honorably on dirt include Funny Moon and Yellow Agate, both Grade 1 winners at Belmont Park. 

The New York Racing Association paid homage to Clement in a Sunday press release with heartfelt reactions to his passing, and a moment of silence during Monday’s Memorial Day card. 

Marc Holliday, Chairman of NYRA's Board of Directors, offered his reflections:

“Every now and then a rare individual comes along and distinguishes themselves in the way they approach life, rising to the top of their game and positively impacting those around them. Christophe was a leader, a family man, friend and mentor to others. 

Christophe was an incredible horseman, who always put the horse first, and the results speak for themselves. I feel lucky to have known him. His legacy is his family and the giant he was in the industry. It will take time to grieve his loss, but as much as this is a sad day, in time there will be much to celebrate for a life well lived.”

David O’Rourke, NYRA President and CEO:

“Beyond his accomplishments as a trainer, which are many, Christophe Clement was a kind and generous man who made lasting contributions to the fabric of racing in New York. His loss is profound, and he will be deeply missed across our sport. We extend our condolences to Christophe’s family and legion of friends.”

NYTHA President Tina Marie Bond:

"Our hearts are saddened today. Christophe was a consummate horseman and so esteemed by his peers, but above all he cherished his family and friends. He made an extraordinary life for himself here in New York. Our sympathies go out to Valerie, Miguel, Charlotte, and Acacia, as well as all of the long-standing members of the CC tribe. May he rest in peace.”

Najja Thompson, Executive Director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders and longtime family friend:

“He was always interested in seeing others succeed in racing. He wanted to see the sport succeed at every level, but most of all, he was a compelling, compassionate, friendly and outgoing individual, that really supported everyone he encountered in his life, including mine.”

Perhaps the last word belongs to fellow trainer Mark Casse, a Hall of Famer both in Saratoga Springs and its Canadian equivalent:

“He was a great horseman. It's a terrible loss for his family and for horse racing. The biggest compliment I can give any trainer is when I looked at a race and he had a horse in the race, I knew I had to beat him. I can count the number of guys I would say that about on one hand. I had a great deal of respect for him.”