Royal Ascot: Queen Anne Stakes

The Queen Anne Stakes, originally open to horses aged three and older, was established in 1840, and during the early part of its history it was called the Trial Stakes. In 1930, it was renamed in honour of Queen Anne, the founder of Ascot Racecourse. The Queen Anne Stakes was classed as a Group 3 race in 1971, and it was promoted to Group 2 level in 1984. It was given Group 1 status in 2003, and at this point the minimum age of participating horses was raised to four. It is now the first race on the opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting.
Early history:- Queen Victoria was in attendance on Tuesday 16th June 1840 when the opening race, the Trial Stakes, was won by the Duke of Rutland's 4-year-old Flambeau (4/7 fav) ridden by Jem Robinson, beating Barabbas, Camelino and 3 others. Prestonjee Boinanjee (4/1) made the early running until half a mile from home, at which point Flambeau took over and went on to win unextended by an easy 2 lengths, making it back to back wins in 1841.
Trial Plate 1843 Group 1 New Mile
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 POISON Bell 3-7st 1lbs Mr Ford 4/1
2 JOHN O'GAUNT Jem Robinson 3-7st 4lbs Duke of Bedford 6/1
3 GRACE DARLING Tommy Lye 3-7st 1lbs Captain Oliver 10/1
4 ST LAWRENCE John Day junior 6-9st 4lbs Mr John Day 5/2 fav
5 DIL-BAR W Scott 4-8st 10lbs Lord Chesterfield 25/1
6 TEMERITY Bartholomew 3-7st 1lbs Mr M Dilly 25/1
7 WEE PET S Mann 3-7st 1lbs Lord Exeter 20/1
8 MA MIE Sam Chifney 4-8st 10lbs Mr Stephenson 5/1
9 CANTON Nat Flatman 3-7st 4lbs General Yates 25/1
10 VOLO W Howlett 3-7st 4lbs Mr T Hussey 25/1
11 MONOPS Jem Chapple 6-9st 4lbs Mr Gardnor 25/1
The Trail Plate, forerunner of the Queen Anne Stakes, over the New Mile, took place on Tuesday 13th June 1843 and the winner, a chestnut filly by Plenipotentiary out of Arsenic, won a first prize of 120 sovereigns from 14 subscribers (equivalent to £15,000 in 2020). Over round 112%
Queen Anne Stakes Group 1 1 mile 1840
1840 1841 1842 1843