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 2004 Group 1 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 THE TATLING Darryll Holland Milton Bradley Dab Hand Racing 8/1
2 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE Mick Kinane D Oughton R Carstairs 13/2
3 FRIZZANTE Johnny Murtagh James Fanshawe Jan Hopper/Elizabeth Grundy 9/2 fav
4 RINGMOOR DOWN Dane O'Neill David Arbuthnot Prof C D Green 25/1
5 MAJESTIC MISSILE Kieren Fallon William Haggas Flying Tiger Partnership 5/1
6 BOOGIE STREET Richard Hughes Richard Hannon Hippodrome Racing 12/1
7 BAHAMIAN PIRATE Gary Stevens David Nicholls Lucayan Stud 50/1
8 MIGHTS CROSS Ted Durcan Mick Channon Ridgeway Downs Racing 50/1
9 LYDGATE Frankie Dettori Eoin Harty Sheikh Mohammed 16/1
10 THE TRADER Jamie Spencer Michael Blanshard Mrs C J Ward 10/1
11 DRAGON FLYER Seamie Heffernan Mick Quinn Marchwood Aggregates 100/1
12 STORMONT Jimmy Quinn Hugh Collingridge K W & Mrs L Styles 66/1
13 IF PARADISE Ryan Moore Richard Hannon Mrs J Wood 100/1
14 LOCHRIDGE Kevin Darley Andrew Balding Mr Jeff Smith 7/1
15 MORNIN RESERVES Robert Winston Ian Semple A Ball & Mrs Harrison 18/1
16 COLONEL COTTON Eddie Ahern Neville Callaghan Jeremy Gompetz 33/1
17 SMOKIN BEAU Tom McLaughlin Nick Littmoden Turf 2000 Ltd 100/1
18 SPEED COP Michael Hills Andrew Balding Mr Jeff Smith 50/1
19 DUBAIAN GIFT Kerring McEvoy Andrew Balding Dubai Thoroughbred Racing 66/1
The King's Stand Stakes took place on Tuesday 15th June 2004 and the winner, a bay horse by Peruginu out of Aunty Eileen won a first prize of £81,200, (equivalent to £127,000 in 2020). Over round 119%
King's Stand Stakes Group 1 5 furlongs 1860
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