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.

King's Stand Stakes 1937 Group 1 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 TICCA GARI A Dupuit Frank Butters Prince Aly Khan 5/1 jt fav
2 WATERBIRD E Smith Jack Jarvis Sir Jack Jarvis 100/9
3 SHALFLEET R Perryman H Leader Major J B Walker 8/1
4 SWIFT ARROW R A Jones W Nightingall Mrs C Rich 5/1 jt fav
5 GEORGE HERE F Herbert Saxby Mr F Hands 100/7
6 DARING DUCHESS A Richardson J Waugh Mrs C Glorney 20/1
7 TAKE TIME S Donoghue Persse Mrs D Thomas 25/1
8 BRAVE WARRIOR B Carslake C Peck Mr Jim Joel 10/1
9 JOVIAL LAD J Taylor McVittie Mr Follett 6/1
10 IPSDEN S Wragg O Bell Lady Ludlow 100/7
11 FLAMMARION P Maher Wellesley Captain Kirkpatrick 20/1
12 PATBALL M Beary Briscoe Mr D Crossman 13/2
13 TAPRI K Robertson Russell Mr F Hardy 25/1
14 LOVER'S PATH J Sirett V Smyth Mr Robin McAlpine 20/1
15 BALLYKISTEEN C Richards Laye Mr Norbury 25/1
16 RUBY TIGER D Smith Frank Butters Lord Durham 20/1
17 NEAR WHITE E Reavey Keddle Major Watson 100/7
The King's Stand Plate took place on Friday 18th June 1937 and the winner, a grey colt by Dark Japan out of Teheran, won a first prize of £1410, (equivalent to £98,000 in 2020). Over round 143%
King's Stand Stakes Group 1 5 furlongs 1860
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