Royal Ascot: Duke of Edinburgh Stakes

The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes is a flat handicap over 1 mile 3 furlongs and 211 yards open to horses of three-year-old and up. The race was previously known as the Bessborough Stakes and was named after John George Brabazon Ponsonby, 5th Earl of Bessborough, who was Master of the Buckhounds on three occasions between 1848 and 1858 under Lord John Russell, Lord Aberdeen and Lord Palmerston. The first race under the original name of the Bessborough Stakes, was a five-furlong race for two-year-olds run on Tuesday 16th June 1914. The title was later bestowed on a mile and a half handicap race at the same meeting. In 1999 the race was renamed in honour of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, although the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes had previously been used for a two-year-old race at Ascot, with Sea Pigeon a former winner who later landed the Champion Hurdle.
Early history:- The inaugural running of the Bessborough Stakes, a forerunner of the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, was over 5 furlongs on Tuesday 16th June 1914 when Mr W Astor's Good and Gay (100/8) defeated Rossendale (10/1), Scotch Rose (100/6) and 13 others by a head and 2 lengths.
Bessborough Stakes 1930 Handicap 1 mile 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 GENTLEMEN'S RELISH K Robertson Atty Persse Mr J P Arkwright 7/1
2 BOLDERO T Lowrey C Waugh Mr J S Austen 100/7
3 MOYRESQUE R Jones Lawson Mr W M Cazalet 4/1
4 OX & ASS C Elliott Digby Mrs G Drummond 100/8
5 STORY TELLER C Richards Gooch Mrs E Harmsworth 100/8
6 EILEANDONAN G Baines H Leader Lord W De Broke 20/1
7 POOR MAN G Richards S Darling Major D Dixon 20/1
8 BURNSIDE J Sirett Tom Cannon Sir W Gilbey 100/6
9 LULWORTH COVE F Lane W Nightingall Lady Curzon 20/1
10 YELLOW ORIEL S Wragg F Hartigan Sir D Llewellyn 20/1
11 LYME REGIS T Weston W Jarvis HM The King 100/8
12 STEERFORTH T Barber Read Sir W Cooke 100/7
13 DEFOE F Fox F Darling Lord Woolavington 9/4 fav
The Bessborough Stakes, forerunner of the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, otook place on Thursday 19th June 1930 and the winner was a black colt by He out of Bonny Bouche, won a first prize which had a first prize of 830 sovereigns (equivalent to £44,000 in 2020). Over round 126%
Duke of Edinburgh Stakes Handicap 1 mile 4 furlongs 1914
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1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
1930