Royal Ascot: Queen Alexandra Stakes

The Queen Alexandra Stakes, named after the consort of King Edward VII, is a flat race over 2 miles 5 furlongs and 159 yards open to horses aged four years or older. It was established in 1864, and it was originally called the Alexandra Plate. It later became known as the Alexandra Stakes, and it was given its current title in 1931. It was formerly contested over 2 miles, 6 furlongs and 34 yards, but it was shortened as a result of the realignment of Ascot's track in 2005. The Queen Alexandra Stakes, the longest flat race in Britain, is traditionally the last race on the final day of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting. It sometimes features horses which ran on the opening day in the Ascot Stakes, and the most recent to win both in the same year was Simenon in 2012.
Early history:- A massive field of 29 contested the very first running of the Alexandra Plate, forerunner of the Queen Alexandra Stakes, over the Old Mile on Friday 10th June 1864. It was won by Mr J Lowe's Anglo-Saxon (20/1) who defeated Crisis (5/1) and Exchequer (8/1) by 2 lengths and a length and a half.
Queen Alexandra Stakes 1985 Conditions race 2 miles 6 furlongs 34 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 VALUABLE WITNESS P Eddery J Tree Mr S Niarchos 8/11 fav
2 RAVARO G Curran J Crowley Mr J Crowley 25/1
3 REAL PEGUS K Moses P O'Leary Mr G O'Leary 25/1
4 THE ILIAD C Roche J Scott Mr L Marks 4/1
5 WAGONER P Eddery P Walwyn Mr A Oldrey 11/2
6 MILLSIDE S Cauthen H Cecil Mr S Niarchos 13/2
7 AL MUNDHIR A Murray H Thomson-Jones Khalid Al Sayegh 10/1
8 SECURITY CLEARANCE M J Kinane D Weld Mr B Firestone 16/1
9 CLAIM TO FAME J D Hills P Molloy Mrs P Molloy 20/1
10 INLANDER W Carson J Davies Mr J Daniels 20/1
11 TRAUMEREL G McGrath M Grassick Mr P Guinan 20/1
The Queen Alexandra Stakes was held over the Old Mile on Friday 21st June 1985 and the winner, a bay gelding by Val de L'Orne out of Friendly Witness won a first prize of £7674 (equivalent to £26,000 in 2020). Over round 142%
Queen Alexandra Stakes Conditions race 2 miles 5 furlongs 159 yards 1864
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