Christophe Clement, a native of France who became one of the most successful trainers in in North America over the last three decades, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 59.
Clement’s passing was announced Sunday afternoon with a social media posting that was written by Clement.
“Unfortunately, if you are reading this, it means I was unable to beat my cancer. As many of you know, I have been fighting an incurable disease, metastatic uveal melanoma. As I reflect on my journey, I realize I never worked a day in my life. Every morning, I woke up and did what I loved most surrounded by so much love. This journey started with my wife, Valerie, and six horses. Being a racehorse trainer is far more than a profession, horses have brought me fulfillment, friends and such wonderful memories.”
Clement, who began training in the U.S. in 1991, won 286 graded stakes in North America in his career, the most recent being the Grade 2 Man o’ War with Far Bridge at Aqueduct on May 10. Clement was in attendance that day, on which he would later win the Take the A Train Stakes with Love Cervere, his last stakes victory.
Though known for his dominance with turf horses, arguably Clement’s best horse was Tonalist, who won the 2014 Belmont Stakes, two runnings of the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, as well as the Grade 1 Cigar Mile.
Clement’s most accomplished horse was Gio Ponti, a seven-time Grade 1 winner, earner of more than $6.1 million and a two-time champion. Other top horses trained by Clement included Gufo, Pizza Bianca, his lone Breeders’ Cup winner, Disco Partner, Forbidden Apple, Voodoo Dancer, Rutherienne, Winchester, Discreet Marq, and Pure Sensation.
Clement grew up in a racing family in France, exercising horses for his father, Miguel, a leading trainer in France. Clement’s brother Nicolas was also a successful trainer in France.
Christophe Clement took classes at the University of Assas in Paris, and worked mornings for legendary trainers Alec Head and Christiane “Criquette” Head-Maarek.
Clement graduated with a degree in economics. He came to the U.S. in 1986 and went through a six-month intern program at Taylor Made Farm. He then worked for trainer Shug McGaughey for 1 1/2 years, a time during which McGaughey had horses such as Personal Ensign and Polish Navy. Clement returned to Europe and worked for Luca Cumani at Newmarket. Clement was Cumani’s assistant for four years.
Clement returned to the U.S. in 1991 to open his own stable and won with his first starter, Spectaculaire, on Oct. 20, 1991, at Belmont Park. His third and fourth career wins were Grade 2 stakes victories at Gulfstream Park with Passagere du Soir and Sardaniya, at Gulfstream Park, in winter 1992.
For 33 years, Clement campaigned primarily in New York and Florida. Despite winning 2,576 races, 611 total stakes and amassing $184,119,069 in purse earnings - 11th all-time in the latter category - Clement has not yet received enough support to gain entry into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. He has been on the ballot since 2019.
Steve Duncker first met Clement 20 years ago when he was chairman of the board of directors at the New York Racing Association. He later had horses with Clement with his Jump Sucker Stable, including Deterministic, a graded stakes winner on both turf and dirt.
“I can’t think of a trainer that was more passionate about New York racing and more supportive of New York racing,” Duncker said. “His first thought was always what can I do to help NYRA? How can we run our horses in New York? What can we do to make New York racing better? - almost to a selfless degree.
“He was a great friend, I mean a great friend, boy, oh boy, are we going to miss him,” Duncker added. “Such a gentleman, so smart; the best communicator I ever had as a trainer and just a great friend.”
Among those Clement trained for was West Point Thoroughbreds, which counts multiple Grade 1 winner Carson’s Run among the horses it campaigned with Clement.
“He let the horse tell him where to go more than any other trainer we ever had and it was amazing how in touch he was with the animals,” said Tom Bellhouse, executive vice president of West Point. “We’ve been doing business with Chris just shy of 10 years and the success we had and running in the big races was amazing. To take Carson’s Run, who was very modest, and make him a multiple Grade 1 winner, is a testament to his brilliant horsemanship, not to mention what a special person he was.”
Andy Belfiore, currently the executive director of the New York Horseman’s Association, met Clement when he first came to the U.S. in 1991 and the trainer needed a place to stay for a few days before he went to Florida.
“Even back then, you could tell he was going to be a great trainer and would always put the horse first,” Belfiore said. “You could see how dedicated to family he was as well, calling home to France pretty much every night; he probably spent half his paycheck on the phone bills. He will be missed. My deepest condolences to his loved ones.”
Marc Holliday, current NYRA chairman, said in a NYRA release: “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 and a mentor to others.”
Prior to Clement’s passing, the decision had been made to move the stable’s horses into his son Miguel’s name beginning with the June 4 card at Saratoga.
“I am truly honored to leave Clement Stable in the capable hands of my son and long-time assistant Miguel Clement,” Christophe Clement wrote. “This has been an ongoing transition over the last few years. Success without a successor isn’t truly success. Watching this transition has truly been one of my proudest moments.”
Christophe Lorieul, a longtime assistant to Clement, is also expected to remain with the stable.
Clement, in his posting, noted that his biggest accomplishment was his family, including wife Valerie, son Miguel and his wife Acacia, daughter Charlotte Clement Collins, her husband Shaun and that couple’s child Hugo.
“I love them all unconditionally and am so proud,” Clement wrote. “I hope you all find one day as much love as I’ve been lucky enough to be given by you all. Please continue to look out for my family. It always was and always will be a family affair.”
Funeral arrangements are pending.