Valerie Clement

Miguel Clement has many memories of the conversations he had with his father about Deterministic (Liam's Map). In Christophe's book, a good horse could perform well across different surfaces and distances, and he always believed Deterministic fit that description. Over the past two years, Deterministic has proven him right, checking both those boxes for the Clement racing stable and serving as a steady presence through a poignant period of change following Christophe's passing in May. "My dad and I both loved him from the get-go and he has been a...

The GI Sword Dancer Stakes, won by El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) Saturday at Saratoga, will be run next year under a new name in honor of late trainer Christophe Clement, who passed away in May. The Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' event will be contested in 2026 as the GI Christophe Clement Turf, as announced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) Saturday just prior to the 2025 running. Clement won the race a record five times, including in 2024 with 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English...

Valerie Clement has arguably seen more horses in her lifetime than many of the younger bloodstock agents working this year's Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Sale. For the past 40 years, she has stood alongside her husband Christophe as he has inspected horses at countless sales, farms and racetracks around the world. Following her husband's passing in May, it would have been understandable if Clement had chosen to step away from the game, but to her that was never an option. In addition to running a thriving stable, Christophe was also involved...

Some 10 years ago, I found myself alone in Chantilly, France at a horse sale and attending the Arc de Triomphe. I didn't know anyone and certainly didn't speak French. France Galop had it set up for me to meet Nicolas Clement at his yard in Chantilly. For those of you who don't know, "yard" is their barn area and the yard is also located at their home. Nicolas was delightful. Showed me around and invited me to a barbecue he was hosting at his home the next day. The...

Christophe Clement, a native of Paris, France, who started training full-time in the U.S. in 1991, has passed away after battling Metastatic Uveal Melanoma. He was 59. Clement was introduced to the sport by his father Miguel, a French trainer. He went to work for top French trainer Alec Head before coming to the U.S. to work for Shug McGaughey. He made one more stop in Europe, working as an assistant to Luca Cumani before opening up his own U.S. based stable in 1991. Clement picked up his first win...