Royal Ascot: St James's Palace Stakes

The event is named after St James's Palace, a royal residence during the Tudor period. It was established in 1834, and the inaugural race resulted in a walkover. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and for a period the St. James's Palace Stakes was classed at Group 2 level. It was promoted to Group 1 status in 1988. It is contested on the opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting.
Early history:- The inaugural running of the St James's Palace Stakes on Tuesday 10th June 1834 was a disappointing affair when 17 of the 18 subscribers were frightened off by the Derby winner Plenipotentiary who was left to walk-over. The next year the race was held on Tuesday 16th June 1835 contested by the Derby second and third, Ascot and Pelops. Ascot once again confirmed his superiority by a length, the same distance he had beaten Pelops by in the Epsom Derby the previous month.
St James's Palace Stakes 1889 Group 1 1 mile
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 PIONEER John Watts Morton 3-9st 0lbs Mr Abington 4/6 fav
2 BEN STROM G Barrett John Porter 3-8st 7lbs Duke of Westminster 5/1
3 SWIFT Rickaby Wadlow 3-8st 7lbs Lord Bradford 100/8
4 COOL Tom Cannon jnr Alec Taylor 3-8st 7lbs Duke of Beaufort 20/1
5 REGALIA John Osborne John Ryan 3-9st 0lbs Mr J H Houldsworth 20/1
6 ANTIBES Tommy Loates Golding 3-8st 11lbs Mr H Milner 8/1
7 GOLD Tom Cannon Tom Jennings snr 3-9st 0lbs Prince Soltykoff 8/1
This race took place on Thursday 20th June 1889, and was won by a 3-year-old brown colt by Galopin out of Moorhen, winning a first prize of 3400 sovereigns from 31 subscribers (equivalent to £440,000 in 2020). Over round 116%
St James's Palace Stakes Group 1 1 mile 1834
        1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839
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