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 1857 Group 1 New Mile
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 THE EARLY BIRD Hughes 6-9st 3lbs Mr T Walker 7/1
2 YORK A Sadler 2-4st 13lbs Mr T Parr 3/1 fav
3 ROSA BONHEUR Charlton 3-7st 4lb Lord Londesborough 13/1
4 SPRIGHTLINESS Mitchell 2-4st 4lbs Mr R Field 12/1
5 PLUMSTONE Constance 2-4st 11lb Mr Angell 25/1
6 WINDHOUND colt Perry 2-4st 13lbs Sir W Booth 25/1
7 BADSWORTH J Rogers 3-7st 4lbs Mr Drinkald 25/1
8 BEECHNUT Heffer 3-7st 4lbs Lord Exeter 25/1
9 THE ADMIRALTY T Fordham 2-5st 1lbs Mr H Hill 25/1
10 HAYMAKER Adams 2-4st 4lbs Lord Ribblesdale 25/1
11 MISTY MORN Shakespeare 2-4st 7lbs Mr Barber 25/1
12 SCHOOLFELLOW Daley 2-4st 4lbs Mr Baker 25/1
13 SUBTILTY Woodhouse 2-4st 6lbs Mr Pack Beresford 10/1
14 SLATTERN George Fordham 3-7st 4lbs Mr Drewitt 25/1
15 MAELSTROM W Bottom 2-4st 8lbs Captain Christie 25/1
16 RIP VAN WINKLE S Rogers 4-8st 7lbs Mr J Wyndham 25/1
17 PUNSTER Blackburn 2-4st 9lbs Mr Scott 25/1
18 POLLY JOHNSON Edwards 2-4st 6lbs Mr Midgley 7/2
The Trail Plate, forerunner of the Queen Anne Stakes, over the New Mile, took place on Tuesday 9th June 1857 and the winner, a bay horse by Birdcatcher out of Magnet, won a first prize of 140 sovereigns from 18 subscribers (equivalent to £16,000 in 2020). Over round 131%
Queen Anne Stakes Group 1 1 mile 1840
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