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 1970 Group 1 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 AMBER RAMA Yves Saint-Martin Mathet Mr Arpad Plesch 4/1
2 HUNTERCOMBE Barclay Budgett Mr H Renshaw 10/1
3 BALIDAR B Taylor J Winter Mr D Prenn 8/1
4 RAFFINGORA L Piggott W Marshall Mr A Srevens 15/8 fav
5 PRINCE TENDERFOOT J Miller P Prendergast Mrs Parker Poe 13/2
6 CINERAMA TWO L Johnson K Prendergast Mr P Leon 100/7
7 PISCES J Seagrave M H Easterby Mr C Rudkin 100/7
8 MYSOLO W Carson Van Cutsem Mr F W Burmann 20/1
9 JUKEBOX J Mercer Wallington Mr D Morris 25/1
10 GALESIAN B Raymond Grassick Mr M Gallagher 33/1
11 TRIBAL CHIEF J Wilson B Swift Mr J Swift 33/1
The King's Stand Stakes took place on Friday 19th June 1970 and the winner, a chestnut colt by Jaipur out of Pink Silk won a first prize of £4661, (equivalent to £74,000 in 2020). Over round 118%
King's Stand Stakes Group 1 5 furlongs 1860
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