Royal Ascot: King's Stand Stakes

The King's Stand Stakes was created as a result of bad weather at Royal Ascot in 1860. Heavy rain made it impossible to run the Royal Stand Plate over its usual distance of 2 miles, so it was shortened to 5 furlongs on the only raceable part of the course. The amended version was called the Queen's Stand Plate, and it subsequently became the most important sprint at the Royal meeting. For a time it was open to horses aged two or older. It was renamed the King's Stand Stakes following the death of Queen Victoria and the accession of King Edward VII in 1901. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the King's Stand Stakes was given Group 1 status in 1973, although it was downgraded to Group 2 level in 1988, but regained its Group 1 status in 2008 and is contested on the opening day of the Royal meeting.
Early history:-The inaugural running of the Queen's Stand Plate for 300 sovereigns, on Tuesday 5th June 1860, saw a large field of superior quality headed by Baron Rothschild's Queen of the Vale (100/6) ridden by John Daley in a canter by 3 lengths from Brown Duchess (5/1), with two lengths back to Satellite (7/1) in third, and 14 others further adrift.

Queen's Stand Plate 1860 Group 1 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 QUEEN OF THE VALE John Daley Joseph Hayhoe 2-6st 5lbs Baron Rothschild 100/6
2 BROWN DUCHESS H Grimshaw 2-6st 10lbs Mr Saxon 5/1
3 SATELLITE George Fordham 4-6st 10lbs Mr R Ten Broeck 7/1
4 LADY CLIFDEN Challoner 2-6st 10lbs Captain Christie 2/1 fav
5 THE ROVER L Snowden 4-9st 10lbs Mr Bryn 20/1
6 SURPLICE Colt Jem Goater 3-8st 5lbs Lord Clifden 20/1
7 MORELLA T French 2-6st 5lbs Mr Gibbs 20/1
8 KING OF KENT Hutchins 2-6st 13lbs Mr Gulliver 20/1
9 HARTLEY WINTNEY Bullock 3-8st 5lbs Mr Hare 25/1
10 FITZ ROLAND Wells 5-9st 0lbs Sir J Hawley 6/1
11 MERRIMAC J Walters 3-8st 5lbs Mr W Nelson 25/1
12 TADMOR Colt J Adams 2-6st 8lbs Mr Parker 25/1
13 BLISWORTH A Edwards 2-6st 11lbs Mr Rogers 25/1
14 MENTMORE John Osborne 5-9st 10lbs Baron Rothschild 25/1
15 CRATER A Day 3-8st 5lbs Mr Sargent 100/6
16 ROESIN Charlton 2-8st 2lbs Mr Savile 100/6
17 DOEFOOT J Snowden 2-6st 10lbs Colonel Townley 7/1
This race took place on Tuesday 5th June 1860, the winner, a 2-year-old bay filly by King Tom out of Agnes, won a first prize of 300 Sovereigns (equivalent to £36,725 in 2020) in a canter by 3 lengths in 1 minute 18 seconds, with two lengths back to the third. Over round 143%
King's Stand Stakes Group 1 5 furlongs 1860
1860