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 1856 Group 1 New Mile
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 SPINDLE Jem Goater 3-7st 4lbs Mr Howard 10/1
2 APATHY Snowden 2-4st 13lbs Mr T Parr 5/2 fav
3 REMEDY Challoner 2-4st 10lb Mr J Jackson 4/1
4 FIE Perry 2-4st 4lbs Captain White 20/1
5 BARFLEUR J Steggles 3-7st 4lb Captain D Lane 20/1
6 KING COB Crouch 3-7st 4lbs Mr Waller 20/1
7 THE BORDERER Woodhouse 2-4st 4lbs Mr R Drewitt 20/1
8 COXWELL Shakespeare 2-4st 7lbs Mr Saxon 20/1
9 CANTRIP Brewtey 2-4st 4lbs Lord John Scott 7/1
10 JUDY Arthur 3-7st 4lbs Mr Rayner 20/1
11 SOUTH-WESTERN Whalley 2-4st 13lbs Mr E R Clark 20/1
12 THE USHER Dear 2-4st 4lbs Mr Gully 20/1
The Trail Plate, forerunner of the Queen Anne Stakes, over the New Mile, took place on Tuesday 10th June 1856 and the winner, a bay filly by Orlando out of Distaffina, won a first prize of 115 sovereigns from 13 subscribers (equivalent to £12,500 in 2020). Over round 109%
Queen Anne Stakes Group 1 1 mile 1840
1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849
1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856