Andre Fabre

Birthdate: December 9, 1945

Birthplace: France, spent his youth in Germany

Residence: Chantilly, France

Family: Wife, Elisabeth (France’s first female jumps jockey); two sons, one daughter

Despite growing up the son of a diplomat and holding a law degree, Andre Fabre was drawn to horses, starting his career as a groom and working his way up to champion jumps jockey. He broke 28 bones before switching to training steeplechase horses. Fabre moved to training on the flat in 1980 and completed the transition in 1983. Was named champion French trainer every year between 1986 and 2007, then two more times in 2010 and 2011.

Fabre sold one of his Chantilly yards to Godolphin Racing in 2008 and now is the French trainer for the global outfit. He is known the world over for his success in classic races in Britain and France, and for having won his country’s most prestigious race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, a record seven times. He is best known in the United States as the engineer of the remarkable Breeders’ Cup Classic upset by Arcangues, one of his four Breeders’ Cup victories.

An avid polo player during racing’s offseason, he keeps his polo team at Apremont near Chantilly and breeds and buys Thoroughbred polo ponies in Argentina.