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 1860 Group 1 New Mile
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 COCK-A-HOOP George Fordham R Ten Broeck 4-8st 11lbs Mr R Ten Broeck 8/1
2 ROUGE DRAGON Thomas 2-5st 0lbs Colonel Pearson 25/1
3 MAID OF PERU Pettingale 2-5st 0lb Mrs Osbaldeston 33/1
4 AMSTERDAM Aldcroft 5-9st 4lbs Mr S Jacobs 33/1
5 TONIO J Plumb 2-5st 0lb Mr Fraser 33/1
6 WEE POLLY Reeves 2-5st 11lbs Mr Mundy 33/1
7 REYNARD A Cowley 4-8st 11lbs Lord De Mauley 33/1
8 CHESTERFIELD Whiteley 2-5st 0lbs Mr T Taylor 33/1
9 SURPLICE gelding Norman 3-7st 8lbs Lord Clifden 33/1
10 AURICULA Parsons 2-5st 0lbs Mr R Nevill 33/1
11 ZODIAC Roper 2-5st 2lbs Mr J Merry 7/2 fav
12 MALTA T French 2-5st 3lbs Mr Angell 33/1
13 PENALTY Hibberd 4-8st 11lbs Mr S Williams 33/1
14 DEFENDER L Snowden 4-8st 11lbs Mr Saxon 33/1
15 GAMMON Clark 2-5st 0lbs Mr Alexander 33/1
16 PETRA Alfred Day 4-8st 11lbs Mr W Day 33/1
17 STELLA Parker 2-5st 0lbs Mr G Hard 33/1
18 CYNRICUS John Wells 4-8st 11lbs Mr Savile 8/1
19 PHILOMELA H Grimshaw 3-7st 8lbs Mr Newland 33/1
20 RESTES Charlton 3-8st 3lbs Baron Rothschild 6/1
21 BRANDY BALL Challoner 4-8st 11lbs Captain Christie 100/8
22 GASPARD G Hall 4-8st 11lbs Mr T Parr 33/1
The Trail Plate, forerunner of the Queen Anne Stakes, over the New Mile, took place on Tuesday 5th June 1860 and the winner, a chestnut colt by The Confessor out of Delia, won a first prize of 230 sovereigns from 26 subscribers (equivalent to £28,000 in 2020). Over round 118%
Queen Anne Stakes Group 1 1 mile 1840
1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849
1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859
1860