With the 2025 Belmont Stakes in the rearview mirror the Daily Racing Blog would be remiss if we didn’t pay tribute to a former Belmont Winning trainer.
Christophe Clement, who trained longshot TONALIST to Victory in the 2014 Belmont Stakes, passed away May 25th. He was 59.
Clement announced his own death in a prepared statement that was posted to his stable’s X account.
“Unfortunately, if you are reading this, it means I was unable to beat my cancer,” it said. “As many of you know, I have been fighting an incurable disease, metastatic uveal melanoma.”
It’s a type of cancer that affects the uvea, the middle layer of the eye. It accounts for just 5% of all melanoma cases in the U.S., however, it can be aggressive and spread to other parts of the body in up to 50% of cases.
The Paris-born Clement had been one of the top trainers in the U.S. over the last 34 years. He learned the trade under his father, Miguel, who was a leading trainer in France.
When Christophe first arrived in America, he worked for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.
Clement went out on his own in 1991, Winning with the first horse he saddled at Belmont Park in New York.
Clement had 2,576 career Victories and purse earnings of over $184 million.
In the 2014 Belmont Stakes, TONALIST spoiled the Triple Crown bid of CALIFORNIA CHROME, (who tied for 4th). TONALIST Won by a head, after not having competed in the Kentucky Derby or Preakness that year.
“Beyond his accomplishments as a trainer, which are many, Christophe Clement was a kind and generous man who made lasting contributions to the fabric of racing in New York,” said Dave O’Rouke, president and CEO of NYRA in a statement.
One of Clement’s best-known horses was GIO PONTI, Winner of Eclipse Awards as Champion Male Turf Horse in 2009 and 2010. He finished 2nd to ZENYATTA in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.
“I am very proud that for over 30 years in this industry, we have operated every single day with the highest integrity, always putting the horses’ wellbeing first,” he said in his farewell message.
The Sport of Kings has lost a nobleman. Godspeed Christophe.
