Gravelines was a grey horse bred in France by Dayton Ltd, a breeding company owned by the French art dealer Daniel Wildenstein. He was by far the best horse sired by Cadmus, a British-bred stallion who recorded his most significant wins in the Prix La Force in 1966 and the Prix d'Harcourt in 1967. Cadmus had little success as a breeding stallion in Europe and was sold and exported to Japan. Gravelines' dam Gray Dove was a full-sister of Pink Pigeon, who won the Santa Barbara Handicap in 1969. Wildenstein sent his colt into training in France with the Argentinian Angel Penna, Sr.
Gravelines began the 1976 season by winning a minor event at Saint-Cloud Racecourse in February. He continued to compete in second-class races, finishing second to Lanargo at Saint-Cloud and winning over 1800 metres. On 30 May, the colt was moved up in class for the Prix du Palais-Royal over 1400 metres at Longchamp. In France, horses in the same ownership are coupled for betting purposes and Gravelines was made 5/2 second favourite together with his more highly regarded stablemate Monsanto, who had been runner-up to Grundy in the Irish 2000 Guineas. Ridden by Yves Saint-Martin, the grey colt recorded his first major victory, beating Girl Friend by two lengths, with Monsanto in third. In his next two races, Gravelines finished second to Full of Hope in the Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord at Chantilly Racecourse and third behind Dona Barod and Monsanto in the Prix Messidor at Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse. On 8 August at Deauville, Gravelines was moved up to Group One level for the first time for the Prix Jacques le Marois. He was coupled in the betting with his stablemate El Rastro and started 2/1 favourite against twelve opponents including Full of Hope, Vitiges, Manado, Donna Barod, Girl Friend and the St James's Palace Stakes winner Radetzky. With Yves Saint-Martin opting to partner El Rastro, Gravelines was ridden by the Australian jockey Gary Moore. The race produced a blanket finish, with the first seven home covered by less than a length, but Gravelines prevailed by a head from Radetzky and Vitiges, who dead-heated for second, with Manado, Ellora, Avaray and El Rastro just behind. After a break of seven weeks, Gravelines returned for the Group One Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on 26 September. With Saint-Martin resuming the ride, the grey colt started 7/10 favourite, coupled with Monsanto and the Prix Jean Prat winner Earth Spirit, against a field which included Avaray, Manado, Ellora, Son of Silver and Dona Barod. Gravelines accelerated impressively in the straight and won easily by two and a half lengths from Dona Barod with Manado in third. In early October, Gravelines was offered for sale at the Polo Club sale in Paris and was bought for ₣950,000 by representatives of Maribel G. Blum & Mrs. Robert Harpinau.
1977: five-year-old season
In 1977, Gravelines was transferred to the United States where he was trained by Neal Winick. On his first appearance for hi new connections, Gravelines finished second in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park on February 4. Fifteen days later the horse contested the Grade III Canadian Turf Handicap over eight and a half furlongs and won from Proponent and Lord Layabout. On March 5 was moved up in clas and distance for the Grade II Pan American Handicap over one and a half miles in which he was ridden by Jerry Bailey and won by more than six lengths in a track record time from Le Cypriote and Gay Jitterbug. On his next appearance he moved to Hialeah Park and finished second to All Friends in the Grade III Bougainvillea Handicap on April 2. Four weeks later at the same course, Gravelines was fatally injured in the Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap. Ridden by the sixteen-year-old Steve Cauthen the horse broke his right front ankle approaching the final turn and was euthanised shortly after the race. After the race an emotional Cauthen said "I started to make my move when he gave out. He dropped his left front leg and went right to his rear end, That's when he broke down. I pulled him off and then jumped off him."
Assessment and awards
In 1976, the independent Timeform organisation awarded Gravelines a rating of 130, two pounds behind their best miler Wollow, and three behind the top-rated older horse Trepan. In the French handicap for 1976 he was rated the third best horse of the year behind the middle-distance runners Ivanjica and Ashmore.
