Marcel Boussac
Marcel Boussac (April 17, 1889 – March 21, 1980) was a prominent French businessman, best known as the owner of the prestigious fashion house Christian Dior and one of the most successful racehorse breeders and owners in Europe during the 20th century.
Born in Châteauroux, Indre, France, Boussac built his fortune in the textile industry. In 1911, he purchased the Château de Mivoisin, a 36-square-kilometer estate located about 90 minutes from Paris in Dammarie-sur-Loing, Loiret.
In 1941, Boussac was appointed a member of the National Council of Vichy France.
In 1946, he financed the newly established Parisian fashion house of Christian Dior, which went on to become one of the world’s most iconic clothing and perfume brands. In 1951, Boussac expanded his business empire into the media industry by acquiring the newspaper L'Aurore.
A passionate equestrian, Boussac acquired the Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard, a stud farm for breeding racehorses located in Neuvy-au-Houlme in Lower Normandy, as well as the Haras de Jardy in Marnes-la-Coquette. As part of his breeding operations, Boussac bought and sold horses across Europe and the United States. He purchased Whirlaway, winner of the American Triple Crown, and sold the mare La Troienne to Idle Hour Stock Farm in Kentucky, owned by Edward R. Bradley. La Troienne would become one of the most influential broodmares ever imported to the United States.
Boussac's horses, known for their distinctive orange silks and grey cap, dominated French horse racing from the 1930s through the 1960s. In France, he was the Leading Owner 14 times and the Leading Breeder 17 times. His success extended internationally, winning major Group 1 races such as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (6 times), the Epsom Derby, the Epsom Oaks, the 2000 Guineas, the St. Leger Stakes, and the Ascot Gold Cup in the United Kingdom.
Following the Fall of France during World War II, Boussac arranged for an officer of the Royal Air Force to secretly fly him from Paris to the United Kingdom, an action that led to the dismissal of the officer, Sidney Cotton, from his position.[1]
During the German occupation of France, the Nazis seized many of the country’s top racehorses. Over 600 horses were transported out of France, most of them to Germany to race or breed at the German National Stud. Among them was the champion stallion Pharis, owned by Boussac.
Boussac was married for many years to opera singer Fanny Heldy. Both are buried in Montmartre Cemetery in Paris.
After his death in 1980, Boussac's estate was liquidated. The newspaper L'Aurore was sold to Robert Hersant, who merged it with Le Figaro. His breeding operation, Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard, was sold to Stavros Niarchos. By that time, the Aga Khan IV had already acquired most of Boussac's broodmares in 1978, when Boussac's companies were declared bankrupt.[2]
In his honor, the prestigious Prix Marcel Boussac - Critérium des Pouliches, a Group 1 horse race, is held annually at Longchamp Racecourse.