Royal Ascot Top Owners

(© John W Slusar 2021)

Constructing a list of the 'Top Royal Ascot owners' has to be more than a single person's subjective judgement, and should be arrived at by taking account of all available evidence and applying some pre-determined formula to give the data order. Therefore, the 2 challenges are:-

  1. Collecting all the evidence;
  2. Proposing a suitable formula.

Prior to 1810 Racing Calendars and newspapers of the day did not always record the name of the winning owner, and provided scant detail about which other owners who fielded runners. Although Ascot races were staged prior to 1807, the inaugural Gold Cup was held in 1807, and the other main races which still exist today followed at various intervals thereafter. This research only includes races which have stood the test of time, and does not include Maidens, Plates, Visitors Handicaps, Oatlands Stakes, Granville Stakes, Rous Memorial Stakes, High-Weight and Light-Weight races.
Once all research has been concluded, and as detailed a list of all owners has been arrived at, the second challenge is to propose a formula which generates an order, giving suitable weight to such factors as, the number of times each owner provided a runner in the race, and the number of times they won the race or were placed. In this instance, 10 points has been awarded for each win, 4 points for each second place, and 1 point for each third place.
Whilst it is not necessary for the reader to contact the author of this list to discuss the merits, or otherwise, of the formula employed, the author would welcome contact from anyone who can provide further evidence of which trainers fielded runners between 1807 and 18. 60 (email johnwslusar@gmail.com)

If your favourite owner is not in the Top 100, contact me to see where they are currently placed in a list of the top 500.

 

1 Mrs John Magnier 1209
BORN October 1953 DIED Alive
PLACED HORSES 219 GOLD CUP WINS 8
WINS 84 SECOND 78 THIRD 57
Evidence Base

 

2 Michael Tabor 1046
BORN 28/10/1941 DIED Alive
PLACED HORSES 200 GOLD CUP WINS 4
WINS 69 SECOND 75 THIRD 56
a b c v n y
Evidence Base

 

3 Godolphin 903
BORN N/A DIED N/A
PLACED HORSES 177 GOLD CUP WINS 5
WINS 62 SECOND 56 THIRD 59
Evidence Base

 

4 Derrick Smith 809
BORN 1940s DIED Alive
PLACED HORSES 152 GOLD CUP WINS 3
WINS 54 SECOND 57 THIRD 41
Evidence Base

 

5 HH Aga Khan III 727
BORN 17/8/1885 DIED 11/7/1957
PLACED HORSES 127 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 52 SECOND 44 THIRD 31
Evidence Base

 

6 Hamdan Al Maktoum 707
BORN 25/12/1945 DIED 24/3/2021
PLACED HORSES 137 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 49 SECOND 43 THIRD 45
Evidence Base

 

7 Sheikh Mohammed 668
BORN 15/7/1949 DIED Alive
PLACED HORSES 135 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 43 SECOND 49 THIRD 42
Evidence Base

 

8 Khaled Abdullah 571
BORN 1937 DIED 13/1/2021
PLACED HORSES 106 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 42 SECOND 29 THIRD 35
Evidence Base

 

9 Lord Exeter 541
BORN 2/7/1795 DIED 16/1/1867
PLACED HORSES 100 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 36 SECOND 39 THIRD 25
Evidence Base

 

10 Duke of Westminster 523
BORN 19/3/1879 DIED 19/7/1953
PLACED HORSES 82 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 39 SECOND 30 THIRD 13
Evidence Base

 

11 Baron N De Rothschild 460
BORN 8/11/1840 DIED 31/3/1915
PLACED HORSES 94 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 32 SECOND 26 THIRD 36
Evidence Base

 

12 Lord Derby (17th Earl) 380
BORN 4/4/1865 DIED 4/2/1948
PLACED HORSES 80 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 22 SECOND 34 THIRD 24
Evidence Base

 

13 HM Queen Elizabeth II 375
BORN 21/4/1926 DIED Alive
PLACED HORSES 75 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 24 SECOND 28 THIRD 23
Evidence Base

 

14 Lord Falmouth (6th) 366
BORN 18/3/1819 DIED 6/11/1889
PLACED HORSES 75 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 25 SECOND 22 THIRD 28
Evidence Base

 

15 H J 'Jim' Joel 335
BORN 1894 DIED 23/3/1992
PLACED HORSES 62 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 25 SECOND 16 THIRD 21
Evidence Base

 

16 Robert Sangster 326
BORN 23/5/1936 DIED 7/4/2004
PLACED HORSES 62 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 22 SECOND 22 THIRD 18
Evidence Base

 

17 Prince Dimitry Soltykoff 308
BORN 1827 DIED 1903
PLACED HORSES 62 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 20 SECOND 22 THIRD 20
Evidence Base

 

18 Sir Abe Bailey 302
BORN 6/11/1864 DIED 10/8/1940
PLACED HORSES 56 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 20 SECOND 22 THIRD 14
Evidence Base

 

19 Leopold De Rothschild 297
BORN 22/11/1845 DIED 29/5/1917
PLACED HORSES 63 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 19 SECOND 21 THIRD 23
Evidence Base

 

20 Lord Astor 295
BORN 1/6/1918 DIED 28/6/1984
PLACED HORSES 52 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 20 SECOND 21 THIRD 11
Evidence Base

 

21 Lord Rosebery (5th Earl) 290
BORN 7/5/1847 DIED 21/5/1929
PLACED HORSES 65 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 18 SECOND 21 THIRD 26
Evidence Base

 

22 Jack Barnato Joel 289
BORN 29/9/1862 DIED 13/11/1940
PLACED HORSES 64 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 17 SECOND 24 THIRD 23
Evidence Base

 

23 M Marcel Boussac 288
BORN 17/4/1889 DIED 21/3/1980
PLACED HORSES 54 GOLD CUP WINS 4
WINS 21 SECOND 15 THIRD 18
Evidence Base

 

24 J H Houldsworth 279
BORN 1835 DIED 30/11/1910
PLACED HORSES 54 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 19 SECOND 18 THIRD 17
Evidence Base

 

25 James Merry 274
BORN 1805 DIED 3/2/1877
PLACED HORSES 49 GOLD CUP WINS 4
WINS 19 SECOND 18 THIRD 12
Evidence Base

 

26 Cheveley Park Stud 274
BORN N/A DIED N/A
PLACED HORSES 52 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 17 SECOND 23 THIRD 12
Evidence Base

 

27 Count F De Lagrange 260
BORN 1815 DIED 1885
PLACED HORSES 53 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 17 SECOND 18 THIRD 18
Evidence Base

 

28 Sir Joseph Hawley 255
BORN 27/10/1813 DIED 1875
PLACED HORSES 45 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 17 SECOND 19 THIRD 9
Evidence Base

 

29 HH Aga Khan IV 247
BORN 13/12/1936 DIED Alive
PLACED HORSES 46 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 16 SECOND 19 THIRD 11
Evidence Base

 

30 Maktoum Al Maktoum 226
BORN 1943 DIED 4/1/2006
PLACED HORSES 37 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 18 SECOND 9 THIRD 10
Evidence Base

 

31 Lord Chesterfield 218
BORN 23/5/1805 DIED 1/6/1866
PLACED HORSES 38 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 16 SECOND 12 THIRD 10
Evidence Base

 

32 Lord Rosebery (6th Earl) 211
BORN 8/1/1882 DIED 31/5/1974
PLACED HORSES 46 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 13 SECOND 16 THIRD 17
Evidence Base

 

33 Lord Woolavington 211
BORN 16/8/1849 DIED 9/8/1935
PLACED HORSES 31 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 17 SECOND 9 THIRD 5
Evidence Base

 

34 Solly Joel 208
BORN 23/5/1865 DIED 22/5/1931
PLACED HORSES 43 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 13 SECOND 16 THIRD 14
Evidence Base

 

35 Duke of Portland (6th) 207
BORN 28/12/1857 DIED 26/4/1943
PLACED HORSES 42 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 14 SECOND 13 THIRD 15
Evidence Base

 

36 9th Lord Howard De Walden 206
BORN 27/11/1912 DIED 10/7/1999
PLACED HORSES 26 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 18 SECOND 6 THIRD 2
Evidence Base

 

37 Lord Glanely 206
BORN 6/3/1868 DIED 28/6/1942
PLACED HORSES 38 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 14 SECOND 14 THIRD 10
Evidence Base

 

38 Claude Joachim Lefevre 206
BORN 1826 DIED 1896
PLACED HORSES 41 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 13 SECOND 16 THIRD 12
Evidence Base

 

39 Henry Savile 202
BORN 1821 DIED 1881
PLACED HORSES 43 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 13 SECOND 14 THIRD 16
Evidence Base

 

40 Washington Singer 201
BORN 1866 DIED 1934
PLACED HORSES 33 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 16 SECOND 8 THIRD 9
Evidence Base

 

41 John Arthur Dewar 192
BORN 3/8/1891 DIED 15/8/1954
PLACED HORSES 27 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 16 SECOND 7 THIRD 4
Evidence Base

 

42 Sir Robert Jardine 186
BORN 24/5/1825 DIED 17/2/1905
PLACED HORSES 30 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 15 SECOND 7 THIRD 8
Evidence Base

 

43 Duke of Beaufort (8th) 182
BORN 1/2/1824 DIED 30/4/1899
PLACED HORSES 35 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 13 SECOND 10 THIRD 12
Evidence Base

 

44 Mr Manton (Duchess of Montrose) 180
BORN 1818 DIED 1896
PLACED HORSES 27 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 15 SECOND 6 THIRD 6
Evidence Base

 

45 Lord Bradford (4th) 173
BORN 3/2/1845 DIED 2/1/1915
PLACED HORSES 38 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 11 SECOND 12 THIRD 15
Evidence Base

 

46 Sir Charles Day Rose 172
BORN 23/8/1847 DIED 20/4/1913
PLACED HORSES 34 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 12 SECOND 10 THIRD 12
Evidence Base

 

47 Duke of York 170
BORN 16/8/1763 DIED 5/1/1827
PLACED HORSES 29 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 11 SECOND 14 THIRD 4
Evidence Base

 

48 John Payne 164
BORN c1820 DIED c1868
PLACED HORSES 29 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 11 SECOND 12 THIRD 6
Evidence Base

 

49 William Stuart Stirling-Crawfurd 162
BORN 1819 DIED 1883
PLACED HORSES 42 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 8 SECOND 16 THIRD 18
Evidence Base

 

50 Giles Loder 157
BORN 2/1/1884 DIED 1/2/1966
PLACED HORSES 28 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 11 SECOND 10 THIRD 7
Evidence Base

 

51 Major Dermot McCalmont 152
BORN 10/4/1887 DIED 26/2/1968
PLACED HORSES 26 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 12 SECOND 6 THIRD 8
Evidence Base

 

52 Highclere Thoroughbreds 152
BORN N/A DIED N/A
PLACED HORSES 32 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 10 SECOND 10 THIRD 12
Evidence Base

 

53 Sir Frederick Johnstone 150
BORN 5/8/1841 DIED 20/6/1913
PLACED HORSES 24 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 12 SECOND 6 THIRD 6
Evidence Base

 

54 Charles St George 147
BORN 1926 DIED 28/5/1992
PLACED HORSES 24 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 11 SECOND 8 THIRD 5
Evidence Base

 

55 Prince Fahd Salman 146
BORN 1955 DIED 25/7/2001
PLACED HORSES 29 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 10 SECOND 9 THIRD 10
Evidence Base

 

56 Arthur James 146
BORN 1853 DIED 30/4/1917
PLACED HORSES 23 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 12 SECOND 5 THIRD 6
Evidence Base

 

57 Sir Ernest Cassel 144
BORN 3/3/1852 DIED 21/9/1921
PLACED HORSES 27 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 9 SECOND 12 THIRD 6
Evidence Base

 

58 Major Lionel Brook Holliday 143
BORN 1880 DIED 1965
PLACED HORSES 30 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 7 SECOND 16 THIRD 9
Evidence Base

 

59 Lord Stamford (7th) 141
BORN 7/1/1827 DIED 2/1/1883
PLACED HORSES 21 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 12 SECOND 4 THIRD 5
Evidence Base

 

60 Duke Of Rutland (5th) 128
BORN 4/1/1778 DIED 20/1/1857
PLACED HORSES 23 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 9 SECOND 8 THIRD 6
Evidence Base

 

61 Jeff Smith 126
BORN N/A DIED Alive
PLACED HORSES 24 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 10 SECOND 4 THIRD 10
Evidence Base

 

62 M E De St Alary 126
BORN c1870s DIED c1933
PLACED HORSES 21 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 9 SECOND 8 THIRD 4
Evidence Base

 

63 John Bowes 126
BORN 19/6/1811 DIED 9/10/1885
PLACED HORSES 27 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 7 SECOND 12 THIRD 8
Evidence Base

 

64 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed 123
BORN 14/11/1982 DIED Alive
PLACED HORSES 21 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 10 SECOND 4 THIRD 7
Evidence Base

 

65 HM King George V 122
BORN 3/6/1885 DIED 20/1/1936
PLACED HORSES 26 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 7 SECOND 11 THIRD 8
Evidence Base

 

66 Douglas Baird 122
BORN N/A DIED 17/2/1909
PLACED HORSES 29 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 8 SECOND 7 THIRD 14
Evidence Base

 

67 Herbert Blagrave 121
BORN 3/3/1899 DIED 4/7/1981
PLACED HORSES 22 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 8 SECOND 9 THIRD 5
Evidence Base

 

68 William Hall Walker 118
BORN 25/12/1856 DIED 2/2/1933
PLACED HORSES 19 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 10 SECOND 3 THIRD 6
Evidence Base

 

69 Duke of Richmond (5th) 117
BORN 3/8/1791 DIED 21/10/1860
PLACED HORSES 21 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 8 SECOND 8 THIRD 5
Evidence Base

 

70 Captain James Machell 117
BORN 1837 DIED 11/5/1902
PLACED HORSES 21 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 8 SECOND 8 THIRD 5
Evidence Base

 

71 Lord Milford 116
BORN 25/2/1902 DIED 30/11/1993
PLACED HORSES 17 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 9 SECOND 6 THIRD 2
Evidence Base

 

72 Sir J Blundell Maple 116
BORN 1/3/1845 DIED 24/11/1903
PLACED HORSES 32 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 5 SECOND 13 THIRD 14
Evidence Base

 

73 John Hay Jock Whitney 115
BORN 17/8/1904 DIED 8/2/1982
PLACED HORSES 16 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 10 SECOND 3 THIRD 3
Evidence Base

 

74 Lord Derby (18th) 115
BORN 21/4/1918 DIED 28/11/1994
PLACED HORSES 25 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 8 SECOND 6 THIRD 11
Evidence Base

 

75 Lord Howard De Walden (8th) 114
BORN 9/5/1880 DIED 5/11/1946
PLACED HORSES 18 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 9 SECOND 5 THIRD 4
Evidence Base

 

76 R Dick Hollingsworth 113
BORN 1919 DIED Feb 2001
PLACED HORSES 17 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 9 SECOND 5 THIRD 3
Evidence Base

 

77 Lord Leonard Brassey 112
BORN 1863 DIED 12/11/1919
PLACED HORSES 22 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 8 SECOND 6 THIRD 8
Evidence Base

 

78 Ludwig Neumann 112
BORN N/A DIED 14/8/1934
PLACED HORSES 25 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 7 SECOND 8 THIRD 10
Evidence Base

 

79 Alfred W Cox/Mr Fairie 111
BORN 1857 DIED 4/5/1919
PLACED HORSES 21 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 8 SECOND 6 THIRD 7
Evidence Base

 

80 Sir William H Cooke 111
BORN 21/6/1872 DIED 11/6/1964
PLACED HORSES 15 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 10 SECOND 2 THIRD 3
Evidence Base

 

81 William Sheward Cartwright 111
BORN 1810 DIED 2/5/1880
PLACED HORSES 18 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 8 SECOND 7 THIRD 3
Evidence Base

 

82 Lord Carnarvon (5th) 110
BORN 26/6/1866 DIED 5/4/1923
PLACED HORSES 20 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 7 SECOND 9 THIRD 4
Evidence Base

 

83 HM King Edward VII/Prince of Wales 108
BORN 9/11/1841 DIED 6/5/1910
PLACED HORSES 18 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 8 SECOND 6 THIRD 4
Evidence Base

 

84 Jimmy De Rothschild 106
BORN 1/12/1878 DIED 7/5/1957
PLACED HORSES 25 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 6 SECOND 9 THIRD 10
Evidence Base

 

85 Robert Charles Vyner 106
BORN 1842 DIED 19/3/1915
PLACED HORSES 16 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 8 SECOND 6 THIRD 2
Evidence Base

 

86 Qatar Racing Ltd 104
BORN N/A DIED N/A
PLACED HORSES 29 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 6 SECOND 7 THIRD 16
Evidence Base

 

87 Sir Victor Sassoon 104
BORN 20/12/1881 DIED 13/8/1961
PLACED HORSES 20 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 7 SECOND 7 THIRD 6
Evidence Base

 

88 Charles Greville 104
BORN 1794 DIED 18/1/1865
PLACED HORSES 17 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 7 SECOND 8 THIRD 2
Evidence Base

 

89 Harry McCalmont 104
BORN 30/5/1861 DIED 8/12/1902
PLACED HORSES 17 GOLD CUP WINS 2
WINS 8 SECOND 5 THIRD 4
Evidence Base

 

90 James Voase Rank 102
BORN 1882 DIED 5/4/1952
PLACED HORSES 18 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 8 SECOND 4 THIRD 6
Evidence Base

 

91 Lord Calthorpe 102
BORN 24/7/1826 DIED 25/6/1893
PLACED HORSES 18 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 7 SECOND 7 THIRD 4
Evidence Base

 

92 Lord John Scott 101
BORN 13/7/1809 DIED 3/1/1860
PLACED HORSES 17 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 8 SECOND 4 THIRD 5
Evidence Base

 

93 Stavros Niarchos 99
BORN 3/7/1909 DIED 16/4/1996
PLACED HORSES 15 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 9 SECOND 1 THIRD 5
Evidence Base

 

94 Sir Michael Sobell 99
BORN 1/11/1892 DIED 1/9/1993
PLACED HORSES 18 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 8 SECOND 3 THIRD 7
Evidence Base

 

95 Gerry Oldham 99
BORN 1925 DIED 5/4/2013
PLACED HORSES 12 GOLD CUP WINS 3
WINS 9 SECOND 2 THIRD 1
Evidence Base

 

96 Major Eustace Loder 98
BORN 1867 DIED 1914
PLACED HORSES 17 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 7 SECOND 6 THIRD 4
Evidence Base

 

97 Sir Robin McAlpine 98
BORN 18/3/1906 DIED 19/2/1993
PLACED HORSES 17 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 8 SECOND 3 THIRD 6
Evidence Base

 

98 3rd Earl of Ellesmere 97
BORN 5/4/1847 DIED 13/7/1914
PLACED HORSES 19 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 7 SECOND 5 THIRD 7
Evidence Base

 

99 Sir R Waldie-Griffiths 97
BORN 1850 DIED 1933
PLACED HORSES 22 GOLD CUP WINS 0
WINS 6 SECOND 7 THIRD 9
Evidence Base

 

100 William Woodward 97
BORN 12/6/1920 DIED 31/10/1955
PLACED HORSES 16 GOLD CUP WINS 1
WINS 7 SECOND 6 THIRD 3
Evidence Base