Baron Guy de Rothschild, a scion of the great French banking family, died June 12 at age 98.
A leading breeder/owner in French racing for more than 50 years, Rothschild raced such top homebreds as Exbury, Diatome, and Crystal Palace. In 1963, Exbury captured the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and England's Coronation Cup, and was declared Horse of the Year in both countries.
Diatome also was a French champion. Diatome, who finished third in Sea-Bird II's 1965 Arc, is best remembered in North America for his triumph in the 1965 Washington, D.C., International at Laurel over a field that included subsequent Horse of the Year Roman Brother and that year's Belmont Stakes winner Hail to All.
Crystal Palace captured the classic Prix du Jockey-Club (Fr-I) in 1977. That same year, he ran third to Alleged in the Arc.
In 1950, Rothschild won the Grand Prix de Paris (at that time France's top race for 3-year-olds) with Vieux Manoir. Rothschild later would win three more runnings of the great race.
Rothschild also raced major homebred winner Luthier, who became a leading sire and broodmare sire in France.
Rothschild's survivors include his son, Baron Edouard de Rothschild, who is president of the organization French-Galop.
