Royal Ascot: Norfolk Stakes

The Norfolk Stakes, a Group 2 flat race over 5 furlongs open to two-year-old horses, is currently staged on the third day of the Royal meeting. The event was established in 1843, and it was originally called the New Stakes. The inaugural running was won by Rattan. The race was renamed the Norfolk Stakes in 1973, in honour of the 16th Duke of Norfolk who served as the Royal Representative at Ascot from 1945 to 1972. For a time the event held Group 3 status, but it was promoted to Group 2 level in 2006.
Early history:- The inaugural running of the New Stakes, the forerunner of the Norfolk Stakes, over the 5 furlongs of the two-year-old course took place on Thursday 15th June 1843 and was won by Mr Crockford's Rattan (5/2) who beat Assay and Charming Kate by 3 lengths and 5 lengths.
New Stakes 1859 Stakes 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer/Age/weight Owner
1 RUPEE Jem Goater 2-8st 3lbs Mr Hamilton 10/1
2 THORMANDY John Osborne 2-8st 7lbs Mr Merry 7/4 fav
3 CONTADINA George Fordham 2-8st 3lbs Mr T Parr 4/1
4 AURORA Alfred Day 2-8st 3lbs Mr F Robinson 3/1
5 THUNDERBOLT R Cotton 2-8st 7lbs Mr C Alexander 6/1
6 OLIVER Hibberd 2-8st 7lbs Captain D W Pack Beresford 25/1
7 BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE S Rogers 2-8st 7lbs Mr John Brown 33/1
8 NARCISSUS Ashmall 2-8st 7lbs Lord Coventry 25/1
9 ANNIE Salter 2-8st 3lbs Mr John Day 33/1
10 CAVRIANA Norman 2-8st 3lbs Mr G Fleming 33/1
11 LONGBOW filly John Wells 2-8st 3lbs Sir Joseph Hawley 12/1
12 ODO W Boyce 2-8st 7lbs Mr J Ingham 33/1
13 AGRA Keeler 2-8st 3lbs Mr G Mathew 33/1
14 ACROBAT colt E Sharp 2-8st 7lbs Mr R C Naylor 33/1
15 LORD MILTON J Walters 2-8st 7lbs Mr Nelson 33/1
16 THE MAID OF ORLEANS Charlton 2-8st 3lbs Mrs Osbaldeston 33/1
17 KING OF DIAMONDS Aldcroft 2-8st 7lbs Baron Rothschild 25/1
18 JASON Musgrove 2-8st 7lbs Baron Rothschild 25/1
19 MIXTURE L Snowden 2-8st 7lbs Mr Saxon 33/1
20 TRADUCER Roe 2-8st 7lbs Mr W Day 33/1
The New Stakes, forerunner of the Norfolk Stakes, took place on Thursday 15th June 1859 and the winner, a brown filly by The Nabob out of Bravery, won a first prize was 500 sovereigns from 40 subscribers (equivalent to £63,000 in 2020). Over round 158%
Norfolk Stakes Group 2 5 furlongs 1843
      1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849
1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859