' Autom ne ▁is ▁a ▁Group ▁ 1 ▁hur d le ▁race ▁in ▁France ▁which ▁is ▁open ▁to ▁horses ▁aged ▁five ▁years ▁or ▁older . ▁It ▁is ▁run ▁at ▁A ute uil ▁over ▁a ▁distance ▁of ▁ 4 , 8 0 0 ▁metres ▁( about ▁ 3 ▁miles ), ▁and ▁it ▁is ▁scheduled ▁to ▁take ▁place ▁each ▁year ▁in ▁late ▁October ▁or ▁early ▁November . ▁ ▁History ▁The ▁race ▁was ▁first ▁run ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 9 ▁as ▁an ▁aut umn ▁counter part ▁to ▁the ▁Grand ▁Prix ▁du ▁Print em ps , ▁a ▁hand ic ap ▁race ▁run ▁at ▁the ▁same ▁course ▁in ▁spring . ▁The ▁Grand ▁Prix ▁d ' Autom ne , ▁however , ▁was ▁a ▁weight - for - age ▁event ▁until ▁becoming ▁a ▁hand ic ap ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁before ▁rever ting ▁to ▁weight - for - age ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 0 . ▁Origin ally ▁run ▁over ▁ 3 , 8 0 0 ▁metres ▁race ▁has ▁been ▁run ▁over ▁a ▁variety ▁of ▁distances . ▁The ▁race ▁was ▁run ▁over ▁ 4 1 0 0 ▁metres ▁between ▁ 1 9 3 0 ▁and ▁ 1 9 3 8 , ▁ 4 0 0 0 ▁metres ▁from ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁to ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁ 4 5 0 0 ▁metres ▁from ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁to ▁ 1 9 6 7 , ▁ 4 6 0 0 ▁metres ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 8 , ▁ 4 3 0 0