The Princess of Wales's Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to Thoroughbred horses aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2,414 metres), and takes place each year in July.
History
The event is named in honour of Alexandra of Denmark, who became the Princess of Wales in 1863. It was established in 1894, and the inaugural running was won by Isinglass. In its early history, the race was one of the British season's most valuable and prestigious all-aged races. It was initially contested over a mile, and it was extended to its current distance in 1902.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and for a period the Princess of Wales's Stakes was classed at Group 3 level. It was promoted to Group 2 status in 1978. It is now held on the opening day of Newmarket's three-day July Festival meeting.
Records
<div style="font-size:90%"> Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Lance Chest â 1912, 1913
- Primera â 1959, 1960
- Lomond â 1965, 1966
- Millenary â 2002, 2003
- Big Orange â 2015, 2016
Leading jockey (8 wins):
- Lester Piggott â Zucchero (1952), Primera (1959, 1960), Apostle (1961), Lord Helpus (1977), Pollerton (1978), Light Cavalry (1981), Head for Heights (1984)
Leading trainer (9 wins):
- Sir Michael Stoute â Shardari (1986), Rock Hopper (1991), Saddlers' Hall (1992), Little Rock (2000), Gamut (2005), Papal Bull (2007), Doctor Fremantle (2009), Crystal Capella (2011), Fiorente (2012)
</div>
Winners since 1960
Earlier winners
- 1894: Isinglass
- 1895: Le Var
- 1896: St Frusquin
- 1897: Velasquez
- 1898: Goletta
- 1899: Flying Fox
- 1900: Merry Gal
- 1901: Epsom Lad
- 1902: Veles
- 1903: Ard Patrick
- 1904: Rock Sand
- 1905: St Denis
- 1906: Dinneford
- 1907: Polymelus
- 1908: Queen's Advocate
- 1909: Dark Ronald
- 1910: Ulster King
- 1911: Swynford
- 1912: Lance Chest
- 1913: Lance Chest
- 1914: The Curragh
- 1915: Rossendale
- 1916: Nassovian
- 1917: no race
- 1918: Blink
- 1919: Buchan
- 1920: Attilius
- 1921: Orpheus
- 1922: Blandford
- 1923: Triumph
- 1924: Salmon-Trout
- 1925: Solario
- 1926: Tournesol
- 1927: Colorado
- 1928: Tourist
- 1929: Fairway
- 1930: Press Gang
- 1931: Shell Transport / The Recorder *
- 1932: Jacopo
- 1933: Raymond
- 1934: Bright Bird
- 1935: Fairbairn
- 1936: Taj Akbar
- 1937: Flares
- 1938: Pound Foolish
- 1939: Heliopolis
- 1940âÂÂ44: no race
- 1945: Stirling Castle
- 1946: Airborne
- 1947: Nirgal
- 1948: Alycidon
- 1949: Dogger Bank
- 1950: Double Eclipse
- 1951: Pardal
- 1952: Zucchero
- 1953: Rawson
- 1954: Woodcut
- 1955: Cobetto
- 1956: Cash and Courage
- 1957: Wake Up!
- 1958: Miner's Lamp
- 1959: Primera
<span style="font-size:85%">* The 1931 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.</span>
See also
References
- Paris-Turf:
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- Racing Post:
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- galopp-sieger.de â Princess of Wales's Stakes.
- ifhaonline.org â International Federation of Horseracing Authorities â Princess of Wales's Stakes (2019).
- pedigreequery.com â Princess of Wales's Stakes â Newmarket.