Oak Tree Stakes

The Oak Tree Stakes, founded as the New Stand Stakes to mark the opening of the new grandstand opened by Queen Elizabeth II, was first staged in 1980 over 7 furlongs for fillies and mares 3-years-old and above, being classed as a Listed race. In 1981, as a one-off, it was named the Royal Wedding Day Stakes as it took place on the same day Princess Diana was married, but a year later, to celebrate the close association between Goodwood Racecourse and Oak Tree Racing in California, it became the Oak Tree Stakes. A reciprocal Goodwood Stakes was held at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park racecourse in the USA. The Oak Tree Stakes was given Group 3 status in 2004, while between 2014 and 2018 the race became known as the L’Omarins Queen’s Plate after the sponsoring company, before reverting to the Oak Tree Stakes which is traditionally staged on the penultimate day of the Festival.
Early history:- The inaugural running of the Oak Tree Stakes, run as the New Stand Stakes, was on Tuesday 29th July 1980 when Lord McAlpine’s Trevita defeated Premier Rose and Our Home.
Oak Tree Stakes 1996 Listed 7 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 THRILLING DAY David Harrison Neil Graham 3-8st 13lbs Bloomsbury Stud 12/1
2 FOREST CAT John Carroll Julie Cecil Mr George Wood 20/1
3 TAMNIA Richard Quinn John Dunlop Prince A A Faisal 14/1
4 NAJIYA Richard Hills John Dunlop Hamdan Al Maktoum 16/1
5 PRANCING Kevin Darley David Loder Cheveley Park Stud 20/1
6 SATIN BELL George Duffield John Dunlop Mr Nicholas Jones 20/1
7 CARRANITA T Sprake Bryn Palling Mrs Rena Davies 6/1
8 PATSY GRIMES Richard Hughes J S Moore Mr J K Grimes 66/1
9 BRIEF GLIMPSE Brent Thomson Major D Chappell Whiteways Racing 14/1
10 SANDHILL Gary Hind John Gosden Prince Khaled Abdullah 33/1
11 BEWITCHING Seb Sanders James Toller Mr P C J Dolby 8/1
12 DAWNA Pat Eddery Sir Henry Cecil Prince Khaled Abdullah 4/1 fav
13 MY BRANCH Michael Hills Barry Hills Wafic Said 9/2
14 ISLA DEL REY John Reid Saeed Bin Suroor Godolphin 9/1
This race took place on Tuesday 30th July 1996 and was over 7 furlongs for 3-y-o fillies. It was valued at £23,295 (equivalent to £37,800 in 2021). Over round 120%