Royal Ascot: King's Stand Stakes

The King's Stand Stakes was created as a result of bad weather at Royal Ascot in 1860. Heavy rain made it impossible to run the Royal Stand Plate over its usual distance of 2 miles, so it was shortened to 5 furlongs on the only raceable part of the course. The amended version was called the Queen's Stand Plate, and it subsequently became the most important sprint at the Royal meeting. For a time it was open to horses aged two or older. It was renamed the King's Stand Stakes following the death of Queen Victoria and the accession of King Edward VII in 1901. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the King's Stand Stakes was given Group 1 status in 1973, although it was downgraded to Group 2 level in 1988, but regained its Group 1 status in 2008 and is contested on the opening day of the Royal meeting.
Early history:-The inaugural running of the Queen's Stand Plate for 300 sovereigns, on Tuesday 5th June 1860, saw a large field of superior quality headed by Baron Rothschild's Queen of the Vale (100/6) ridden by John Daley in a canter by 3 lengths from Brown Duchess (5/1), with two lengths back to Satellite (7/1) in third, and 14 others further adrift.

King's Stand Stakes 1953 Group 1 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 FAIRY FLAX A Breasley Lawson Mr R Clark 20/1
2 LA RONDE E Mercer Bertie Sir V Sassoon 8/1
3 SPAGHETTI P Maher A Vasey Mr J Adam 20/1
4 WHISTLER G Richards P Nelson Maharajah of Baroda 6/4 fav
5 BALLYLINAN W Marland Laye Mr S Raphael 5/1
6 ROYAL DUCHY W Johnstone Ireland Mr A Hawkins 10/1
7 VATELLUS Herbert Jones J Pearce Mr Alex Bird 100/8
8 STEPHEN PAUL Beary Persse Mr J Olding 100/7
9 TRIPAWAY S Clayton Cottrill Major L B Holliday 100/7
10 WAYSIDE Snaith S Mercer Mr J Kinchin 20/1
11 CHIFFONE II F Durr Forester Mrs V Allbutt 33/1
12 REENKILLA D Smith V Smyth Mr E Bigham 33/1
13 DARK DAYS T Carter J Tree Mrs C Lancaster 33/1
The King's Stand Stakes took place on Friday 19th June 1953 and the winner, a chestnut mare by Pensive out of Confetti, won a first prize of £1416, (equivalent to £45,000 in 2020). Over round 121%
King's Stand Stakes Group 1 5 furlongs 1860
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