TheKing George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakesis aGroup 1flathorse racein Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run atAscotover a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 211 yards (2,406 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.
Group 1 race | |
Location | Ascot Racecourse Ascot,England |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1951 |
Race type | Flat/Thoroughbred |
Sponsor | QIPCO |
Website | Ascot |
Race information | |
Distance | 1m 3f 211y (2,406 metres) |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Right-handed |
Qualification | Three-years-old and up |
Weight | 8st12lb(3yo); 9 st 9 lb (4yo+) Allowances 3 lb forfilliesandmares 4 lb forS. Hemisphere4yo |
Purse | £1,250,000(2022) 1st:£708,875 |
2024 | ||
Goliath | Bluestocking | Rebel's Romance |
Previous years | ||
---|---|---|
2023 | ||
Hukum | Westover | King Of Steel |
2022 | ||
Pyledriver | Torquator Tasso | Mishriff |
2021 | ||
Adayar | Mishriff | Love |
It is Britain's most prestigious open-age flat race, and its roll of honour features some of the most highly acclaimed horses of the sport's recent history. The 1975 running, which involved a hard-fought battle to the finish betweenGrundyandBustino,is frequently described as the "race of the century".[1]Many of its winners subsequently compete in thePrix de l'Arc de Triomphe,and a number go on to have a successful career at stud. The race is often informally referred to as the "King George".
History
editThe event was formed as the result of an amalgamation of two separate races at Ascot which were established in 1946 and 1948.[2]The first of these, named afterKing George VI,was a 2-mile contest for three-year-olds held in October. The second, in honour of his wife,Queen Elizabeth,was a one and a half-mile event staged in July. The idea was conceived by Major John Crocker Bulteel, the Clerk of the Course at Ascot, who wanted to create an important international race over one and a half miles for horses aged three or older. The inaugural running of the combined race took place on 21 July 1951. In its first year, to commemorate theFestival of Britain,it was titled the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Festival of Britain Stakes.
During the early part of its history the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes was not commercially sponsored. Its first period of sponsorship started in 1972, when it began a long association with the diamond companyDe Beers.The word "Diamond" was added to the race's title when permission for its inclusion was given byQueen Elizabeth IIin 1975. It became known as the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, and De Beers continued to back the event until 2006.
The online betting companyBetfairstarted to sponsor the King George in 2009,[3]and its prize fund was increased from £750,000 to £1,000,000. It is now Britain's second richest horse race, with a purse exceeded only by that ofThe Derby.
The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes became part of theBreeders' Cup Challengeseries in 2011. The winner now earns an automatic invitation to compete in the same year'sBreeders' Cup Turf.[4]
Most successful horse (3 wins):
- Enable–2017, 2019, 2020
Leadingjockey(7 wins):
- Lester Piggott–Meadow Court (1965), Aunt Edith (1966), Park Top (1969), Nijinsky (1970), Dahlia (1974), The Minstrel (1977), Teenoso (1984)
- Frankie Dettori–Lammtarra (1995), Swain (1998), Daylami (1999), Doyen (2004), Enable (2017, 2019, 2020)
Leadingtrainer(6 wins):
- Sir Michael Stoute–Shergar (1981), Opera House (1993), Golan (2002), Conduit (2009), Harbinger (2010), Poet's Word (2018)
Leading owner (6 wins):(includes part ownership)
- Michael Tabor–Montjeu (2000), Galileo (2001), Hurricane Run (2006), Dylan Thomas (2007), Duke of Marmalade (2008), Highland Reel (2016)
Winners
edit- The time of the 1962 race was incorrectly given on the day of the race as 2 min. 32.02 and corrected to 2 min. 37.02 in October 1962.
- Since 2006 the race has been run over the same distance but over a reconstructed course in the final two furlongs
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Wood, Greg (27 July 2000)."Enduring greatness of Grundy v Bustino".The Independent.Retrieved19 July2009.
- ^"King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes".tbheritage.com.Retrieved19 July2009.
- ^Armytage, Marcus(3 December 2008)."New sponsor announced for classic".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved19 July2009.
- ^"2011 Breeders' Cup Challenge Schedule"(PDF).breederscup.com. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 6 June 2012.Retrieved2 January2012.
- ^Montgomery, Sue (24 July 1994)."Theatre's dramatic effect".The Independent.Retrieved18 September2011.
External links
edit- Race Recordings (1954, 1956, 1960, 1965, 1970-2006)youtube.com
- galopp-sieger.de–King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
- horseracingintfed.com–International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Race Detail (2018).
- pedigreequery.com–King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes – Ascot.
- tbheritage.com–King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.
- Abelson, Edward; John Tyrrel (1993).The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records.Breedon Books. pp. 122–123.ISBN1-873626-15-0.
- Randall, John; Tony Morris (1985).Horse Racing: The Records.Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 71–73.ISBN0-85112-446-1.