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 1983 Handicap 1 mile 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 GRAND UNIT A Mackay E Eldin Mr Eric Eldin 9/2 fav
2 ABERFIELD L Piggott P Kelleway Kavli 5/1
3 SPIN OF A COIN B Rouse Horgan Mr Ken Higson 12/1
4 WEAVER'S PIN Shaun Keightley M E Francis Mrs M Francis 12/1
5 ABDOUN W R Swinburn M Stoute HH Aga Khan 13/2
6 JUPITER ISLAND P Robinson C Brittain Mr S Threadwell 20/1
7 BREVET J Mercer P Walwyn Lord Howard De Walden 12/1
8 FIRM EVALUATION M Hills J Hindley Mr J Fluor 14/1
9 FORWARD W Carson J Dunlop Mr N Hunt 14/1
10 KEELBY KAVALIER E Hide J Etherington Mrs J Durant 14/1
11 THORNDOWN P Eddery L Cumani Lord Porchester 14/1
12 CLAUDIUS CROZET M Miller Huffer Mr Geoff Huffer 16/1
13 TWO HIGH J Reid R Houghton Mr C Nicholson 20/1
14 REGAL STEEL Paul Eddery Reg Hollinshead Steel Plate & Selections 20/1
15 RESIDE P Cook E Carter Mrs D Craig 20/1
16 FITZPATRICK N Howe P Walwyn Mr A Oldrey 25/1
17 COMMONTY R Fox J Bethell Mr J Beausire 28/1
18 TIRAWA R Hills M Jarvis Mr T Tak Tan 28/1
19 MISTER VALENTINO E Johnson J Hanson Mr Robert Ogden 33/1
20 BRIGADIER HAWK R Street C Austin Mr A Richards 66/1
The Bessborough Stakes, forerunner of the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, took place on Wednesday 15th June 1983 and the winner was a bay horse by Home Guard out of Silka Topper, won a first prize of £8597 (equivalent to £30,000 in 2020). Over round 133%
Duke of Edinburgh Stakes Handicap 1 mile 4 furlongs 1914
        1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
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 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980 1981 1982 1983