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 1873 Group 1 New Mile
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 MOORLANDS Mr W Bevill 6-10st 0lbs Mr W Bevill 4/1 fav
2 LUCY SUTTON Fred Webb 4-9st 11lbs Mr F Fisher 8/1
3 LOWLANDER Jewitt 3-8st 3lb Lord Aylesford 5/1
4 WAMBA colt Butler 3-8st 2lbs Mr G Nicholas 20/1
5 BORDEAUX Custance 5-10st 0lb Lord Downe 20/1
6 TEMPLAR Cannon 3-8st 7lbs Mr J Barnard 10/1
7 MARIA THERESA Sam Darling 3-8st 4lbs Mr T Golby 20/1
8 PROTO MARTYR Jem Goater 4-9st 9lbs Mr Spencer 20/1
9 SIMPION Parry 6-9st 6lbs Mr J Foy 20/1
10 GRAND FLANEUR John Osborne 3-8st 7lbs Mr H Bragg 10/1
11 ST ALBANS colt Bird William Day 3-8st 7lbs Mr William Day 20/1
12 NOBLEMAN George Fordham 6-9st 6lbs Mr M Lefevre 7/1
The Trail Plate, forerunner of the Queen Anne Stakes, over the New Mile, took place on Tuesday 10th June 1873 and the winner, a chestnut colt by Lord Clifden out of Audrey, won a first prize of 265 sovereigns from 13 subscribers (equivalent to £29,000 in 2020). Over round 109%
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 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869
1870 1871 1872 1873