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.
Bessborough Stakes 1923 Handicap 1 mile 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 EAST TOR F Bullock Alec Taylor Mr Washington Singer 10/1
2 BOWOOD Harry Wragg R Marsh HM The King 7/1
3 EVANDER W McLachlan De Mestre Mr Solly Joel 6/1
4 ARDAVON G Hulme R Dawson Mr H G de Costa 6/1
5 HIGHBROW Brownie Carslake George Lambton Lord Derby 5/1 fav
6 CAMPBELL KID H Beasley Harper Mrs A Bendir 10/1
7 PRINCE HEROD R Jones Sam Darling Mr J C Denison-Pender 10/1
8 BRINKLOW R Stokes W Jarvis Mr A B Bayley-Worthington 7/1
9 HEROD PHILIP Steve Donoghue F Hartigan Captain L Montague 100/8
10 MELIBEUS Charlie Elliott Jack Jarvis Mr C W Gordon 100/7
11 LADY OF THE ROSE Gordon Richards Ward Mr J White 100/7
The Bessborough Stakes, forerunner of the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, otook place on Wednesday 20th June 1923 and the winner was a chestnut horse by Sir Eager out of Whitetor, won a first prize which had a first prize of 830 sovereigns (equivalent to £44,000 in 2020). Over round 117%
Duke of Edinburgh Stakes Handicap 1 mile 4 furlongs 1914
        1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
1920 1921 1922 1923