Wertheimer et Frere

2009 Record: (127-27-16-16)

2009 Earnings: $2,225,757

2009 Win %: 21% In-The-Money %: 46%

Owner(s): Alain and Gerard Werthheimer
Residence: Based in Switzerland
Professional Background: The Wertheimer brothers are ranked 65th on Forbes list of richest people with a listed net worth of $7.5 billion … They are the senior members of the French family that owns the world famous Chanel perfume manufacturing business that also sells high-end clothing and accessories . They inherited Chanel upon the death of their father, Jacques, in 1996 at age 86
Racing Background: An interest in racing goes back two generations in a family which has been responsible for the development of a number of influential stallions, including Lyphard, Riverman and Green Dancer ... Alain and Gerard’s grandfather, Pierre, was a bastion of the European turf, winning English classics such as the 1956 Epsom Derby. His death in 1965 saw the famous blue and white silks passed on to his widow, who was France’s leading owner in 1972, and when she passed away in 1974, on again to Jacques … Father Jacques Wertheimer was champion owner in his first full season, sweeping the 1975 French 1,000 Guineas, 2,000 Guineas and Prix du Jockey-Club with Ivanjica, Green Dancer and Val de L’Orne. Ivanjica went on to win the 1976 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe, an event won by Wertheimer again in 1981 by Gold River, great grandam of 2008 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Goldikova
Breeding/Racing Operation: Have been represented in Breeders’ Cup races 16 times including victories by Goldikova in the 2009 Mile, Halfbridled in 2003 Juvenile Fillies and Kotashaan in 1993 Turf ... Halfbridled was named champion Juvenile Filly, while Kotashaan was named Champion Turf Horse and Horse of the Year … Goldikova, on target to defend her Mile title in 2009, represents at least five straight generations on the maternal side of Wertheimer breeding as her dam, grandam, great grandam, and great-great grandam (Glaneuse) were all bred by the Wertheimer family … Goldikova is trained by Freddie Head. Wertheimers employ Todd Pletcher in North America … Recent victories under Pletcher’s tutelage include the Wertheimers’ homebred Grade 3 winner Interactif, a possible starter in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf … Interactif represents a newer generation of Wertheimer bloodlines as his dam, Broad Pennant, was purchased for $675,000 at the 2000 Keeneland November breeding stock sale … Interactif’s great grandam is legendary Personal Ensign, who retired undefeated after her dramatic victory in the 1988 Distaff … Gerard and Alain gradually took over the family’s racing stable as their father got older … They masterminded some great triumphs on the other side of the Atlantic, where the Wertheimer horses raced under the name of La Presle Farm until switching to Wertheimer et Frere ... Most notable were the 1993 Breeders’ Cup Turf success of Kotashaan and the 1996 G1 Pacific Classic win of Dare and Go, which ended the 16-race streak of the great Cigar … Other notable Group 1 races won: the 1998 Prix Marcel Boussac (with Juvenia), the 1999 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Goldamix), the 2000 the Prix de Diane (Egyptband) and the Grand Criterium (Okawango) ... The Werthheimers were champion owners in France in 1999 and 2000 … In 2006, they ended a 23-year association with trainer Criquette Head-Maarek after she fell out with their retained jockey, French champion Olivier Peslier. But the family ties have not been cut altogether, as Freddie Head is Criquette’s brother … Have about 100 horses in training … Breeding stock is based in Europe and Kentucky.