Royal Ascot: Queen Alexandra Stakes

The Queen Alexandra Stakes, named after the consort of King Edward VII, is a flat race over 2 miles 5 furlongs and 159 yards open to horses aged four years or older. It was established in 1864, and it was originally called the Alexandra Plate. It later became known as the Alexandra Stakes, and it was given its current title in 1931. It was formerly contested over 2 miles, 6 furlongs and 34 yards, but it was shortened as a result of the realignment of Ascot's track in 2005. The Queen Alexandra Stakes, the longest flat race in Britain, is traditionally the last race on the final day of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting. It sometimes features horses which ran on the opening day in the Ascot Stakes, and the most recent to win both in the same year was Simenon in 2012.
Early history:- A massive field of 29 contested the very first running of the Alexandra Plate, forerunner of the Queen Alexandra Stakes, over the Old Mile on Friday 10th June 1864. It was won by Mr J Lowe's Anglo-Saxon (20/1) who defeated Crisis (5/1) and Exchequer (8/1) by 2 lengths and a length and a half.
Alexandra Plate 1865 Conditions race Old Mile course (3 miles)
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 FILLE DE L'AIR H Grimshaw Tom Jennings snr 4-10st 0lbs Count F De Lagrange 5/1
2 STRAFFORD Custance Tom Dawson 4-9st 7lbs Lord Glasgow 100/8
3 BREEZE J Daley Joseph Hayhoe 4-10st 0lbs Baron Rothschild 100/7
4 BARAGAH Ashmall 4-10st 0lbs Mr Bowes 5/2 fav
5 CLAREMONT T French 4-10st 0lbs Mr Bowes 100/6
6 PLANET John Wells 4-10st 0lbs Sir Joseph Hawley 10/1
7 BLACKDOWN George Fordham 5-10st 8lbs Mr Henry 8/1
8 CATHEDRAL John Osborne 4-10st 0lbs Mr W Hudson 8/1
9 HOLLYFOX W Boyce 4-9st 7lbs Mr C Perry 25/1
10 BALLY EDMOND Deacon aged-10st 8lbs Mr S Thellusson 20/1
11 STANTON Mr Edwards aged-10st 8lbs Mr W H Scott 25/1
12 TARTAR Jem Goater 4-10st 0lbs Mr W G Craven 20/1
13 ARMAGNAC Aldcroft 5-10st 8lbs Lord Stamford 10/1
The Alexandra Plate, forerunner of the Queen Alexandra Stakes, was held over the Old Mile on Friday 16th June 1865 when won by a chestnut filly by Faugh-a-Ballagh out of Pauline, won a first prize of 2225 sovereigns from 40 subscribers (equivalent to £282,000 in 2020). Over round 123%
Queen Alexandra Stakes Conditions race 2 miles 5 furlongs 159 yards 1864
        1864 1865