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 1953 Handicap 1 mile 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 SLEEPING WARRIOR D Smith G Colling Lord Derby 100/6
2 BONDAGE G Littlewood H Peacock Mrs E Hartigan 7/1 fav
3 PHILANTROPE A Breasley Cannon Mr H Frost 100/6
4 BUCKHOUND G Richards Murless Col B Hornung 8/1
5 RASS CASTLE J Sime P Vasey Mr M McKeown 100/9
6 TOBIAS E Mercer Bertie Count C S-Aspang 100/9
7 WESTINFORM T Gosling R Smyth Mr W Wheeler 100/8
8 RICHARD LOUIS E Smith Nightingall Col F Halse 100/7
9 GREY MAGIC Piggott W Payne Mrs P Reynolds 100/6
10 PHIL D'OR III W Johnstone Hanley Mr M G Ginter 100/6
11 CALCIUM S Clayton Winter Mr P Bartholomew 20/1
12 CORONADO III J Sirett R J Colling Mr Charles Clore 20/1
13 RED EARTH Fawdon H Leader Mrs J Walker 20/1
14 SUN COMPASS J Mercer Barling Mr W Noble 20/1
15 HERVINE Morby G Colling Mr P Robinson 20/1
16 BOLD TUDOR Snaith P Nelson Maharajah of Baroda 20/1
17 PROUD SCOT J Bunker P Nelson Sir B Mountain 20/1
18 HIGH PRINCIPLE Rickaby Carey Mr S Single 20/1
19 MORNING TRIAL Reader Bisgood Mr H Lynch 20/1
20 LOVELEY T Carson Walwyn Mrs J Thursby 20/1
The Bessborough Stakes, forerunner of the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, took place on Wednesday 17th June 1953 and the winner was a bay horse by Nepenthe out of Nith, won a first prize which had a first prize of £1578 (equivalent to £51,000 in 2020). Over round 132%
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 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
1950 1951 1952 1953