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 1904 Group 1 1 mile 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 RYDAL HEAD Morny Cannon John Porter Duke of Westminster 6/4 fav
2 ADMIRAL BREEZE Otto Madden Gilbert Mr J Musker 8/1
3 CHATSWORTH Herbert Jones Richard Marsh HM The King 100/8
4 MONSQUSTON H Aylin H Enoch Mr Douglas Baird 5/1
5 PERORATION Kempton Cannon H Enoch Lord Penrhyn 7/1
6 ORTELAS J Watts Richard Marsh HM The King 20/1
7 IVAN W Griggs Sherwood jnr Sir R Waldie-Griffith 20/1
8 CASTELLO W Halsey John Ryan Mr J H Houldsworth 20/1
9 JOLLY BEGGAR Danny Maher Blackwell Lord Rosebery 20/1
10 TOPIARY G McCall Robinson Lord Hamilton 20/1
This race took place on Tuesday 14th June 1904 and was won by a brown colt by St Frusquin out of Rydal, who won a first prize of 1875 sovereigns (equivalent to £233,000 in 2020). Over round 112%
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
1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899
1900 1901 1902 1903 1904