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 1981 Group 1 1 mile
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 TO-AGORI-MOU G Starkey G Harwood Mrs A Mouinos 2/1
2 KING'S LAKE P Eddery M V O'Brien Mr J Binet 6/4 fav
3 BEL BOLIDE W Carson J Tree K Abdulla 12/1
4 ROBELLINO J Matthias I Balding Mrs J McDougald 12/1
5 ANOTHER REALM J Reid F Durr Mrs D Goldstein 8/1
6 GREAT SUBSTENCE A Gilbert Saliba Mr M Fustok 33/1
7 PRINCE ECHO G McGrath L Browne Mrs J O'Brien 12/1
8 SHASAVAAN W R Swinburn M Stoute HH Aga Khan 33/1
This race took place on Tusday 16th June 1981 and was won by a 3-year-old brown colt by Tudor Music out of Sarah Van Fleet, winning a first prize of £26,196 (equivalent to £103,000 in 2020). Over round 113%
St James's Palace Stakes Group 1 1 mile 1834
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