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 1997 Group 1 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 DON'T WORRY ME Olivier Peslier G Henrot J Gribomont 33/1
2 TITUS LIVIUS Cash Asmussen J E Pease Niarchos Family 7/1 co fav
3 HEVER GOLF ROSE Pat Eddery T J Naughton Hever Racing Club 7/1 co fav
4 AVERTI Kieren Fallon William Muir D J Deer 33/1
5 EASYCALL Michael Tebbutt Brian Meehan Easycall Partnership 11/1
6 STRUGGLER Kevin Darley David Loder Lord Lloyd Webber 16/1
7 RAMBLING BEAR Ray Cochrane Michael Blanshard Mrs Michael Hill 12/1
8 BOLSHOI Mick Kinane Jack Berry Mrs David Brown 10/1
9 CROFT POOL Gary Carter James Glover Countryside Classics Ltd 16/1
10 YA MALAK Alex Greaves David Nicholls Contrac Promotions 8/1
11 DEEP FINESSE Michael Roberts Michael Jarvis John E Sims 12/1
12 COMPTON PLACE Seb Sanders James Toller Duke of Devonshire 12/1
13 CATHEDRAL T Quinn Brian Meehan Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds 20/1
14 CHECK THE BAND Christy Roche Aidan O'Brien John James 20/1
15 ALMATY Gary Stevens John Gosden Mr Peter Savill 7/1 co fav
16 BRAVE EDGE Dane O'Neill Richard Hannon Horris Vale Racing 33/1
17 ROYALE FUGURINE Darryll Holland M Fetherston-Godley Craig Pearman 20/1
18 SYLVA PARADISE Douglas Whyte Clive Brittain Eddy Grimstead Honda 66/1
The King's Stand Stakes took place on Friday 20th June 1997 and the winner, a bay mare by Dancing Dissident out of Diva Encore won a first prize of £73,512, (equivalent to £137,000 in 2020). Over round 126%
King's Stand Stakes Group 1 5 furlongs 1860
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