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 2002 Group 1 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 DOMINICA Martin Dwyer Marcus Tregoning Major & Mrs R B Kennard 16/1
2 CONTINENT Darryll Holland David Nicholls Lucayan Stud 16/1
3 KYLLACHY Jamie Spencer Henry Candy Thurloe Thoroughbreds 11/10 fav
4 THE TRADER Jimmy Quinn Michael Blanshard Mrs C J Ward 8/1
5 INDIAN PRINCE Pat Eddery Brian Meehan Matham Investments 25/1
6 OLIVIA GRACE Jimmy Fortune Terry Mills Sherwoods Transport Ltd 100/1
7 JESSICA'S DREAM Micky Fenton James Given Derick Hilton & Peter Onslow 13/2
8 SMOKIN BEAU Matthew Henry J Cullinan Turf 2000 Ltd 14/1
9 BAHAMIAN PIRATE Richard Hughes David Nicholls Lucayan Stud 8/1
10 MISTY EYED Kevin Darley Nerys Duffield Mrs Jan Fuller 33/1
11 MONKSTON POINT Johnny Murtagh David Arbuthnot Derrick Broomfield 33/1
12 INDIAN SPARK Tony Culhane Jim Goldie Frank Brady 25/1
13 VITA SPERICOLATA Gary Carter John Wainwright Blue Check Partnership 100/1
14 POMFRET LAD Seb Sanders Peter Makin R Percival & Miss S M Rhodes 66/1
15 ANNA ELISE Seamie Heffernan J A Flynn L Tucker 66/1
The King's Stand Stakes took place on Tuesday 18th June 2002 and the winner, a chestnut mare by Alhaara out of Dominio won a first prize of £78,300, (equivalent to £130,000 in 2020). Over round 121%
King's Stand Stakes Group 1 5 furlongs 1860
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