by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

The 10-year-old French mare Roxane Griff made history Sunday afternoon (Jan. 18) at Vincennes by winning the world’s richest under saddle race, the Prix de Cornulier over the 1-11/16 mile distance, for the second time in a row and as the first 10-year-old trotter ever.

Gerard Forni photo

The 10-year-old French mare Roxane Griff won the Prix de Cornulier.

But what seemed to be an easy task going into the stretch ended up in a photo finish. Roxane Griff drifted to the outside down the stretch and her rider, Eric Raffin, thought he was home and safe and raised his hands in triumph. However, in the far inside Tiego d’Etang with Charles Bigeon finished strongly and it was impossible to judge who was the winner.

The judges had to call for a photo and it showed that Roxane Griff had won the race by a nose in 1:58 (mile rate).

The purse for the winner was $365,000. That brings Roxane Griff’s lifetime earnings to $3.35 million, making her the richest trotter in training in Europe. Roxane Griff will race in the Prix d’Amerique next Sunday afternoon with Eric Raffin in the bike.

Third past the post was Vittel de Bevol, who became a little bit rough gaited down stretch. However, that was enough for the judges, who disqualified Vittel de Brevol and placed him last. Instead the third prize, worth $113,500, was handed to Talicia Belle, who was fourth past the post.