Royal Ascot: Queen Anne Stakes

The Queen Anne Stakes, originally open to horses aged three and older, was established in 1840, and during the early part of its history it was called the Trial Stakes. In 1930, it was renamed in honour of Queen Anne, the founder of Ascot Racecourse. The Queen Anne Stakes was classed as a Group 3 race in 1971, and it was promoted to Group 2 level in 1984. It was given Group 1 status in 2003, and at this point the minimum age of participating horses was raised to four. It is now the first race on the opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting.
Early history:- Queen Victoria was in attendance on Tuesday 16th June 1840 when the opening race, the Trial Stakes, was won by the Duke of Rutland's 4-year-old Flambeau (4/7 fav) ridden by Jem Robinson, beating Barabbas, Camelino and 3 others. Prestonjee Boinanjee (4/1) made the early running until half a mile from home, at which point Flambeau took over and went on to win unextended by an easy 2 lengths, making it back to back wins in 1841.
Trial Plate 1853 Group 1 New Mile
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 ARIOSTO F Butler 5-9st 0lbs Mr Mare 4/1
2 EPHESUS Bartholomew 5-9st 0lbs Captain Lane 2/1 fav
3 ADELINE Bundy 2-4st 4lb Mr J Perren 10/1
4 LETUS Wells 3-7st 4lbs Mr R E Cooper 10/1
5 PHOENIX J Edwards 2-4st 4lb Lord Exeter 10/1
6 NUTSHELL Norman 6-9st 3lbs Lord Exeter 10/1
7 WILLIAM RUFUS Nat Flatman 3-7st 4lb Duke of Richmond 10/1
8 BROUGHTON E Harrison 3-7st 4lb Lord Londesborough 5/1
9 LADY BIRD Bush 2-4st 4lbs Mr Treen 25/1
10 VINGT-UN Plumb 2-4st 4lbs Lord J Scott 25/1
11 HYBLA J Osborne 3-7st 4lbs Mr J M Stanley 25/1
12 LADY LOUISA Charlton 3-7st 4lbs Baron Rothschild 25/1
13 FILIUS sister T Cliff 2-4st 11lbs Sir R Pigot 25/1
14 HAM H Sopp 2-4st 6lbs Mr E Parr 25/1
15 LIONESS Cresswell 2-4st 4lbs Mr Reeve 25/1
The Trail Plate, forerunner of the Queen Anne Stakes, over the New Mile, took place on Tuesday 7th June 1853 and the winner, a chestnut horse by Orlando out of Preserve, won a first prize of 125 sovereigns from 15 subscribers (equivalent to £16,000 in 2020). Over round 142%
Queen Anne Stakes Group 1 1 mile 1840
1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849
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