Royal Ascot: Norfolk Stakes

The Norfolk Stakes, a Group 2 flat race over 5 furlongs open to two-year-old horses, is currently staged on the third day of the Royal meeting. The event was established in 1843, and it was originally called the New Stakes. The inaugural running was won by Rattan. The race was renamed the Norfolk Stakes in 1973, in honour of the 16th Duke of Norfolk who served as the Royal Representative at Ascot from 1945 to 1972. For a time the event held Group 3 status, but it was promoted to Group 2 level in 2006.
Early history:- The inaugural running of the New Stakes, the forerunner of the Norfolk Stakes, over the 5 furlongs of the two-year-old course took place on Thursday 15th June 1843 and was won by Mr Crockford's Rattan (5/2) who beat Assay and Charming Kate by 3 lengths and 5 lengths.
New Stakes 1887 Stakes 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer/Age/weight Owner
1 FRIARS BALSAM Tom Cannon John Porter 2-8st 10lbs Sir F Johnstone 13/8 fav
2 SEABREEZE Sam Loates James Jewitt 2-9st 0lbs Lord Calthorpe 100/30
3 AYRSHIRE Charles Wood G Dawson 2-8st 10lbs Duke of Portland 100/30
4 SIMON PURE Rickaby Alf Sadler 2-8st 10lbs Mr R H Combe 100/7
5 BARTIZAN Fred Webb John Dawson snr 2-8st 10lbs Mr A Benholm 10/1
6 SAWDUST C Dunn Sherwood 2-8st 7lbs Mr F Lawson 10/1
7 SALTIRE W Robinson William A Jarvis 2-8st 7lbs Mr Oswald 20/1
The New Stakes, forerunner of the Norfolk Stakes, took place on Thursday 10th June 1887 and the winner, a chesnut colt by Hermit out of Flower of Dorset, won a first prize was 1480 from 98 subscribers (equivalent to £196,000 in 2020). Over round 116%
Norfolk Stakes Group 2 5 furlongs 1843
      1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849
1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859
1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869
1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879
1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887