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 1848 Group 1 New Mile
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 WAR EAGLE Job Marson 4-8st 7lbs Mr Bouverie 4/7 fav
2 WANTONA Charles Marlow 4-8st 7lbs Lord Caledon 4/1
3 FORECLOSURE Simon Templeman 4-8st 7lbs Mr Pedley 10/1
4 SYRUP Collins 2-4st 1lbs Duke of Richmond 10/1
5 MARGARET G Sharp 2-4st 11lbs Mr Douglas 20/1
6 TOPHANA R Pettit 3-7st 1lb Lord Exeter 20/1
7 LADY LIFT Wakefield 4-8st 4lbs Mr Griffiths 20/1
8 TOT J Sharp 3-7st 4lbs Mr S Scott 20/1
The Trail Plate, forerunner of the Queen Anne Stakes, over the New Mile, took place on Tuesday 6th June 1848 and the winner, a brown horse by Lanercost out of Valentine, won a first prize of 650 sovereigns from 13 subscribers (equivalent to £78,000 in 2020). Over round 121%
Queen Anne Stakes Group 1 1 mile 1840
1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848