The 169^th edition of the Prix de Diane Longines saw the incredible victory of Laurens ridden by American jockey Patrick McDonald at the world’s most important race for fillies. The eagerly anticipated racing event took place at the sumptuous Chantilly racecourse on Sunday 17 June 2018 in front of thousands of spectators who flocked to watch the day’s eight thoroughbred races. As the Title Partner, Official Timekeeper and Watch of the event, Longines celebrated Laurens’ remarkable performance by awarding its owner, trainer and jockey with elegant timepieces. They were presented by Zhao Liying, Longines Ambassador of Elegance, who joined the Longines family in 2017 to mark the brand’s 185^th anniversary. Renowned for her remarkable acting talent and widely recognised as a true style icon, Zhao Liying has over 60 million fans on Chinese platform Weibo.
 

At the emotional sporting event, Zineb El Briouil put in a winning performance on Beaupreau in the Prix Longines Future Racing Stars, which is open to young jockeys from riding schools across the world, allowing the winner to be granted a school bursary. Meanwhile amateur jockey Alice Bertiaux and her horse Ducale di Maremma took first place in brilliant style in the Prix de La Reine Marie-Amélie Longines, a race between female riders from FEGENTRI (International Federation of Gentlemen and Lady Riders). The watch brand has always been committed to showcasing the passion of up-and-coming talent and amateurs for their favourite sport, and it was therefore delighted to award the champions of the races with an elegant Longines watch.
 

At the day of races, imbued with its own unique brand of elegance, the event’s Official Watch was also revealed to spectators: a model from the Record collection. The line combines classic elegance and excellence with the aim of becoming one of the brand’s flagship ranges. Given their high accuracy, all the models in the Record collection have been certified as chronometers by the COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute). A timepiece belonging to the Record collection was presented by Zhao Liying to the most elegant female racegoer, Johanna Contremoulins, the winner of the “Mademoiselle Diane by Longines” award.
 

In addition, Longines is delighted to be the main patron of the “Painting the Races” exhibition held at the Domain of Chantilly from 16 June to 14 October 2018. The brand is proud to be associated with the exhibition, which will allow the public to discover exceptional works featuring racehorses dating from the late 18th century to the late 19th century. The equestrian world has been of central importance to Longines for over 140 years.