Royal Ascot: Prince of Wales's Stakes

The Prince of Wales's Stakes, currently staged on the second day of the Royal meeting, was established in 1862, and named after the Prince of Wales at that time, the future King Edward VII. The original version was restricted to three-year-olds, and it was contested over 1 mile and 5 furlongs. The race was discontinued after World War II, when there was no Prince of Wales. It returned in 1968, a year before the investiture of Prince Charles. The distance of the new version was 1 mile and 2 furlongs, and it was now open to horses aged three or older. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and for a period the Prince of Wales's Stakes was classed at Group 2 level. It was promoted to Group 1 status in 2000, and at this point the minimum age of participating horses was raised to four.
Early history:- The inaugural running of the Prince of Wales's Stakes was on Tuesday 17th June 1862 over 1 mile 5 furlongs of the New Course. It was won by Carisbrook (100/8), beating Neptunus (4/1 joint favourite) and Hurricane (20/1) by 2 lengths and a head.
Prince of Wales's Stakes 1867 Group 1 1 mile 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age'weight Owner
1 VAUBAN George Fordham John Day 3-9st 1lbs Duke of Beaufort 100/30
2 ACHIEVEMENT Challoner Dover 3-8st 10lbs Colonel Pearson 4/1
3 MARKSMAN J Daley J C Waugh 3-9st 1lbs Mr James Merry 3/1 fav
4 OWAIN GLYNDWR Hibberd W Goater 3-8st 3lbs Sir R Bulkeley 10/1
5 STAR OF INDIA T French W Boyce 3-8st 13lbs Lord Falmouth 25/1
6 VAN AMBURGH H Covey Joseph Dawson 3-8st 13lbs Mr G Fleming 10/1
7 JULIUS Custance Mathew Dawson 3-8st 10lbs Duke of Newcastle 100/8
8 RAVIOLI Norman Gilbert 3-8st 10lbs Mr H Savile 20/1
9 BEANSTALK Heartfield Henry Woolcott 3-9st 1lbs Mr Graham 25/1
10 SEVILLE Parry John Day 3-8st 3lbs Duke of Beaufort 25/1
11 THORNAPPLE A Edwards Olliver 3-8st 13lbs Mr Cartwright 25/1
12 THE PADISHAH Huxtable John Porter 3-8st 13lbs Sir Joseph Hawley 10/1
This race took place on Tuesday 4th June 1867 and was won by a brown colt by Muscovite out of Palm, who won a first prize of 5650 sovereigns from 99 subscribers (equivalent to £637,000 in 2020). Over round 125%
Prince of Wales's Stakes Group 1 1 mile 2 furlongs 1862
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