Royal Ascot: Duke of Edinburgh Stakes

The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes is a flat handicap over 1 mile 3 furlongs and 211 yards open to horses of three-year-old and up. The race was previously known as the Bessborough Stakes and was named after John George Brabazon Ponsonby, 5th Earl of Bessborough, who was Master of the Buckhounds on three occasions between 1848 and 1858 under Lord John Russell, Lord Aberdeen and Lord Palmerston. The first race under the original name of the Bessborough Stakes, was a five-furlong race for two-year-olds run on Tuesday 16th June 1914. The title was later bestowed on a mile and a half handicap race at the same meeting. In 1999 the race was renamed in honour of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, although the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes had previously been used for a two-year-old race at Ascot, with Sea Pigeon a former winner who later landed the Champion Hurdle.
Early history:- The inaugural running of the Bessborough Stakes, a forerunner of the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, was over 5 furlongs on Tuesday 16th June 1914 when Mr W Astor's Good and Gay (100/8) defeated Rossendale (10/1), Scotch Rose (100/6) and 13 others by a head and 2 lengths.

Duke of Edinburgh Stakes 2003 Handicap 1 mile 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 WAVERLEY Jimmy Fortune Hughie Morrison Lord Margadale 14/1
2 RESEARCHED Kieren Fallon Sir Michael Stoute Lord Weinstock 7/2 fav
3 HAMBLEDEN Philip Robinson Michael Jarvis Stag & Huntsman 14/1
4 CANADA Christophe Soumillon Martin Pipe Mrs Sally Rowe 50/1
5 PAGAN DANCE Pat Eddery Amanda Perrett The Gap Partnership 20/1
6 KING'S CONSUL Frankie Dettori David Loder Sheikh Mohammed 14/1
7 SHABERNAK Micky Fenton Michael Bell Thurloe Thoroughbreds 14/1
8 SOLO FLIGHT Mick Kinane Barry Hills Lady Hardy 20/1
9 RED WINE Martin Dwyer Jamie Osborne Paul J Dixon 25/1
10 HAZIM Richard Hills Sir Michael Stoute Hamdan Al Maktoum 4/1
11 MUHAREB Richard Hughes Clive Brittain Saeed Manana 12/1
12 COUNSEL'S OPINION Richard Mullen Chris Wall Mrs J Roberts 14/1
13 SILENCE IS GOLDEN Pat Smullen Brian Meehan Miss J Semple 25/1
14 ARABIE Keith Dalgleish Mark Johnston Favourites Racing 16/1
15 GALLERY GOD Darryll Holland Simon Dow J Etheridge & R Gurney 20/1
16 SCOTTY'S FUTURE Olivier Peslier David Nicholls Lucayan Stud 25/1
17 IBERUS John Egan Martin Pipe V J Hughes 40/1
18 SADDLER'S QUEST Seb Sanders John White Nick Quesnel 100/1
19 STAGE BY STAGE Steve Drowne Charles Egerton Mrs Evelyn Hankinson 50/1
20 DILEER Kevin Darley Luca Cumani Sheikh Mohammed Obaid 14/1
The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes took place on Tuesday 17th June 2003 and the winner was a bay horse by Catrail out of Marble Halls, won a first prize of £34,800 (equivalent to £56,000 in 2020).. Over round 129%
Duke of Edinburgh Stakes Handicap 1 mile 4 furlongs 1914
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1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003