Royal Ascot: Coventry Stakes

The event was established in 1890, and it was named after the 9th Earl of Coventry, George William Coventry, born 9th May 1838, a Conservative politician, Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms, and who Master of the Buckhounds from 1886-1892 and again from 1895 to 1901. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and for a period the Coventry Stakes was classed at Group 3 level. It was promoted to Group 2 status in 2004. It is usually contested on the opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting.
Early history:-The Prince and Princess of Wales were in attendance on Tuesday 17th June 1890 for the inaugural running of the Coventry Stakes worth £1,823 to the winner. Excessive rain fell until noon, but it was fine when the 19 runners lined up for the Coventry Stakes over 6 furlongs. After repeated attempts the flag fell to a level start and, although the field was large, the race developed into a match between Siphonia (100/15) and The Deemster (9/4 fav) owned by Mr J B Leigh, with the favourite, ridden by Robinson, getting his head in front on the line to win by a head, with Grace Emily (20/1) three lengths back in third.
New Coventry Stakes 1917 Group 2 5 furlongs 136 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 BENEVENTE J H Martin Captain Dewhurst Lord Londonderry 2/1 fav
2 CLARE colt Steve Donoghue De Mestre Sir W J Tatem 6/1
3 SOMME KISS Tommy Bunrs Pickering Mr C T Garland 4/1
4 WILTON Joe Childs Leach Lord Anglesey 10/1
5 PERNELLE colt C Trigg Reg Day Mr J P Arkwright 8/1
6 CYCLIST W Griggs W Halsey Sir Ernest Casssel 20/1
7 FOREGROUND A Whalley Farquharson Mr R J Farquharson 10/1
8 OLD GOLD Herbert Jones Cottrill Mr J W Harvie 20/1
9 SAGITTA colt H Stokes Sanderson Mr J W Larnach 20/1
10 CYCLAMEN colt Fred Rickaby H Leader Mr J B Leigh 10/1
11 ALCAIC Otto Madden T Waugh Sir R Jardine 20/1
The Coventry Stakes took place on Wednesday 1st August 1917 at Newmarket Racecourse and the winner, a bay colt by Polymelus out of Pearmain, won a first prize was 500 sovereigns (equivalent to £35,000 in 2020) Over round 125%
Coventry Stakes Group 2 6 furlongs
1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899
1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917