Royal Ascot: St James's Palace Stakes

The event is named after St James's Palace, a royal residence during the Tudor period. It was established in 1834, and the inaugural race resulted in a walkover. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and for a period the St. James's Palace Stakes was classed at Group 2 level. It was promoted to Group 1 status in 1988. It is contested on the opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting.
Early history:- The inaugural running of the St James's Palace Stakes on Tuesday 10th June 1834 was a disappointing affair when 17 of the 18 subscribers were frightened off by the Derby winner Plenipotentiary who was left to walk-over. The next year the race was held on Tuesday 16th June 1835 contested by the Derby second and third, Ascot and Pelops. Ascot once again confirmed his superiority by a length, the same distance he had beaten Pelops by in the Epsom Derby the previous month.
St James's Palace Stakes 1899 Group 1 1 mile
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 MILLENNIUM Otto Madden Richard Marsh 3-8st 9lbs Duke of Devonshire 6/1
2 MAZAGAN Tommy Loates H Enoch 3-9st 0lbs Mr Douglas Baird 7/2
3 BONIFACE W Bradford Tom Jennings jnr 3-8st 7lbs Mr L Brassey 5/1
4 DISMAY Morny Cannon John Porter 3-9st 0lbs Duke of Portland 100/12
5 HADRIAN Rickaby George Lambton 3-9st 0lbs Lord Derby 100/30 fav
6 WILD IRISHMAN John Watts Leach 3-9st 0lbs Mr H J King 6/1
7 BRANTOME Sam Loates John Dawson snr 3-8st 7lbs Lord Ellesmere 100/8
8 COURSER Allsopp W Stevens 3-8st 7lbs Mr W Ingram 10/1
This race took place on Thursday 15th June 1899, and was won by a 3-year-old colt by Melanion, winning a first prize of 4300 sovereigns from 40 subscribers (equivalent to £559,000 in 2020). Over round 119%
St James's Palace Stakes Group 1 1 mile 1834
        1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839
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 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879
1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889
1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899