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 1926 Group 1 7 furlongs & 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 BULGER C Smirke Wootton Mrs Cathew 7/2
2 TENACITY J Thwaites F Archer Lord Glanely 100/8
3 BURNSIDE J Caldwell Tom Cannon Sir W Gilbey 100/15
4 HARPAGON Elliott Jack Jarvis Sir G Bullough 7/1
5 MARIE ROCKET James Wal Griggs Sir D Horsfall 100/12
6 VANDYCK H Beasley Atty Persse Mr Ryan 10/1
7 HARPIST Fred Winter F Hartigan Mr Jenkins 10/1
8 BLUE PETE M Beary Platt Sir W Cooke 10/1
9 LANCHESTER S Donoghue F Darling Duke of Portland 10/1
10 MELON R Jones Watts Mr Murray 100/8
11 HELD FAST Dempsey O Bell Captain Fielden 20/1
12 EQUATOR Joe Childs Farquharson Sir D Broughton 20/1
13 GRANADA Henri Jelliss Basil Jarvis Mr J P Hornung 20/1
14 MEXXOTINT Harry Wragg Reg Day Sir Abe Bailey 20/1
15 BATTLESHAFT W Stephenson Major Beatty Lady Curzon 20/1
16 BONIFACE C Roberts R Jones Mr W Waldron 20/1
17 WITFUL W McLachlan Cottrill Mrs W Whitburn 20/1
18 ACROBATIC A Burns Higgs Mr Jeffrey 20/1
19 SILVER CRUSADE K Robertson W Waugh Mr F Gretton 20/1
20 BRUSSELTON Orme Beardsley Mr Fielden 20/1
21 RELATION Fox C Peck Mr Jim Joel 20/1
22 ASTRE D'OR J Sirett R Dawson HH Aga Khan 20/1
The Trail Plate, forerunner of the Queen Anne Stakes, over the New Mile, took place on Tuesday 15th June 1926 and the winner, a black horse by Bridge of Earn out of Black Gem won a first prize of 680 sovereigns (equivalent to £36,000 in 2020). Over round 173%
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 1857 1858 1859
1860 1861 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 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926