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 1883 Group 1 1 mile 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age'weight Owner
1 GALLIARD Fred Archer Mathew Dawson 3-9st 1lbs Lord Falmouth 9/4
2 OSSIAN E Rossiter John Porter 3-8st 3lbs Duke of Hamilton 100/12
3 LAOCOON Charles Wood Wadlow 3-8st 3lbs Lord Bradford 7/4 fav
4 NEWFIELD Lemaire John Ryan 3-8st 3lbs Mr J H Houldsworth 10/1
5 MALIBRAN E Martin Dodge 3-7st 12lbs Count F De Lagrange 10/1
6 LADISLAS George Fordham Tom Jennings jnr 3-9st 1lbs Mr C J Lefevre 10/1
7 ETTARRE Sam Loates Joe Cannon 3-7st 12lbs Lord Rosebery 10/1
This race took place on Tuesday 5th June 1883 and was won by a brown colt by Galopia out of Mavis, who won a first prize of 3100 sovereigns from 62 subscribers (equivalent to £380,000 in 2020). Over round 114%
Prince of Wales's Stakes Group 1 1 mile 2 furlongs 1862
    1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869
1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879
1880 1881 1882 1883