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 1889 Group 1 1 mile 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age'weight Owner
1 DONOVAN F Barrett G Dawson 3-9st 5lbs Duke of Portland 2/9 fav
2 ROYAL STAR John Watts Tom Jennings jnr 3-8st 13lbs Mr Tom Jennings jnr 20/1
3 ENTHUSIAST Fred Webb John Ryan 3-9st 5lbs Mr Douglas Baird 20/1
4 COOL Tom Cannon jnr Alec Taylor 3-8st 3lbs Duke of Beaufort 50/1
5 GONDOLIER Rickaby Wadlow 3-8st 3lbs Mr H T Fenwick 50/1
6 DUNCREGGAN John Osborne Bates 3-8st 10lbs Sir R Jardine 50/1
7 GOLD Tom Cannon Tom Jennings snr 3-8st 13lbs Prince Soltykoff 10/1
8 ALASTOR Morny Cannon Tom Jennings snr 3-8st 10lbs Prince Soltykoff 50/1
This race took place on Tuesday 18th June 1889 and was won by a bay colt by Galopin out of Mowerina, who won a first prize of 4150 sovereigns from 63 subscribers (equivalent to £537,000 in 2020). Actual first prize was £2225. Over round 107%
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 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889