Christophe Clement, a well-known horse trainer who won the 2014 Belmont Stakes with Tonalist, died on May 25, 2025, at the age of 59.
He had been battling a rare eye cancer called metastatic uveal melanoma, which affects the middle layer of the eye and can spread to other parts of the body.
Clement announced his own death in a prepared statement that was posted to his stable’s Twitter account on Sunday, which reads:
Unfortunately, if you are reading this, it means I was unable to beat my cancer. As many of you know, I have been fighting an incurable disease, metastatic uveal melanoma.
Christophe Clement
He reflected on his life, saying he never felt like he worked a day because he loved training horses and was surrounded by love from his family and friends.
Clement added, “This journey started with my wife, Valerie, and six horses. Being a racehorse trainer is far more than a profession, horses have brought me fulfillment, friends, and such wonderful memories.”
The horse trainer thanked his wife, kids, family, lifetime assistant, Christophe Lorieul, his team, and wonderful owners, many of whom have become family and very close friends.
Christophe Clement is survived by his beloved wife, Valerie, whom he met when they were 18, their children, son Miguel and daughter-in-law Acacia, daughter Charlotte Clement Collins and son-in-law Shaun Collins, and grandson Hugo.
The respected horse trainer revealed that Miguel, his son and longtime assistant, will now run the family’s stable, writing:
I am truly honored to leave Clement Stable in the capable hands of my son and long-time assistant, Miguel Clement.
Christophe Clement
Christophe Clement Trained More Than Two Thousand Horses During His 34-Year Career!
Born in Paris, France, Christophe Clement grew up around horses, learning from his father, Miguel, a top trainer in France.
He later worked with famous trainers like Alec Head and Shug McGaughey before starting his own stable in the United States in 1991. Clement’s very first horse, Spectaculaire, won at Belmont Park, marking the start of a successful career.
Over 34 years, Clement trained 2,576 winning horses, earning over $184 million in prize money.
His most famous horses included Tonalist, which stopped California Chrome’s Triple Crown bid in 2014, and Gio Ponti, a champion turf horse in 2009 and 2010. Clement also won a Breeders’ Cup race in 2021 with Pizza Bianca.
Let alone his career, Clement was known for his kindness and dedication to his horses. He always put their well-being first and was known as a generous person in the racing world.
Many, including the New York Racing Association and fellow trainers, praised his contributions to horse racing.
In his final message, he thanked his family, team, and horse owners for their support and urged everyone to “enjoy life every single day.”
Details surrounding Christophe Clement’s funeral services remain unknown. Now that he is no more among us, we offer our heartfelt condolences to Clement’s wife, kids, friends, and extended family during this difficult time.
Rest Easy, Christophe Clement!
