Princess Royal Stakes
Encyclopedia
The British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes is a Group 2
flat
horse race
in Great Britain
which is open to thoroughbred
fillies
and mare
s aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot
over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2,414 metres). It is scheduled to take place each year on Champions' Day in October.
The event was established at Ascot in 1946 and was originally known as the Princess Royal Stakes in honour of the Princess Royal
at that time, Princess Mary
. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and for a period the Princess Royal Stakes was classed at Group 3 level.
The race was transferred to Newmarket
in 2008, and at the same time it was given a new title and promoted to Group 2 status. It now paid tribute to Pride, a successful mare whose victories included Newmarket's Champion Stakes
in 2006. The title "Princess Royal Stakes" was adopted by a different event at Ascot – a Listed race previously called the Harvest Stakes. The Pride Stakes was staged on Champions' Day – the second day of Newmarket's two-day Champions' Meeting. In 2011 the event returned to Ascot as part of a revamped Champions' Day with an increased prize fund and similar condition to a Group One race. It was renamed the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes.
Most successful horse (2 wins):
----
Leading jockey
(8 wins):
----
Leading trainer
(9 wins):
The 1987 and 1993 runnings were abandoned because of a waterlogged course.
The 2000 and 2005 editions were temporarily switched from Ascot to Newmarket.
.
Recurring events established in 1946 – the British Champion Fillies' & Mares' Stakes is included under its original title, Princess Royal Stakes.
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
flat
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
horse race
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
which is open to thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
fillies
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
and mare
Mare
Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
s aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2,414 metres). It is scheduled to take place each year on Champions' Day in October.
The event was established at Ascot in 1946 and was originally known as the Princess Royal Stakes in honour of the Princess Royal
Princess Royal
Princess Royal is a style customarily awarded by a British monarch to his or her eldest daughter. The style is held for life, so a princess cannot be given the style during the lifetime of another Princess Royal...
at that time, Princess Mary
Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood
The Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood was a member of the British Royal Family; she was the third child and only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. She was the sixth holder of the title of Princess Royal...
. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and for a period the Princess Royal Stakes was classed at Group 3 level.
The race was transferred to Newmarket
Newmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
in 2008, and at the same time it was given a new title and promoted to Group 2 status. It now paid tribute to Pride, a successful mare whose victories included Newmarket's Champion Stakes
Champion Stakes
The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October...
in 2006. The title "Princess Royal Stakes" was adopted by a different event at Ascot – a Listed race previously called the Harvest Stakes. The Pride Stakes was staged on Champions' Day – the second day of Newmarket's two-day Champions' Meeting. In 2011 the event returned to Ascot as part of a revamped Champions' Day with an increased prize fund and similar condition to a Group One race. It was renamed the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes.
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Shebeen – 1974, 1975
----
Leading jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
(8 wins):
- Lester PiggottLester PiggottLester Keith Piggott is a retired English professional jockey, popularly known as "The Long Fellow". With 4,493 career wins, including nine Epsom Derby victories, he is one of the most well-known English flat racing jockeys of all time....
– Rose of Medina (1959), Green Opal (1960), Vhairi (1963), Bracey Bridge (1965), Bamboozle (1967), Mandera (1973), Karamita (1980), One Way Street (1984)
----
Leading trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
(9 wins):
- John DunlopJohn L. DunlopJohn L. Dunlop is a successful race horse trainer based in Arundel, Sussex, with over 3000 winners between 1966 and 2002.He was the British flat racing Champion Trainer in 1995....
– Predicament (1966), Trillionaire (1978), Flighting (1981), Believer (1982), Banket (1988), Labibeh (1995), Signorina Cattiva (1999), Head in the Clouds (2001), Acts of Grace (2006)
Winners since 1979
Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Time |
1979 | Alia | 3 | Steve Raymont | Jeremy Tree Jeremy Tree Arthur Jeremy Tree, was a British Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.-Background:Born into a prominent London, England family, Tree was always known by his middle name, Jeremy. His father was Ronald Tree, an American-born British journalist, investor and Conservative Member of Parliament for the... |
|
1980 | Karamita | 3 | Lester Piggott Lester Piggott Lester Keith Piggott is a retired English professional jockey, popularly known as "The Long Fellow". With 4,493 career wins, including nine Epsom Derby victories, he is one of the most well-known English flat racing jockeys of all time.... |
Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
|
1981 | Flighting | 3 | Brian Rouse | John Dunlop John L. Dunlop John L. Dunlop is a successful race horse trainer based in Arundel, Sussex, with over 3000 winners between 1966 and 2002.He was the British flat racing Champion Trainer in 1995.... |
|
1982 | Believer | 3 | Brian Rouse | John Dunlop John L. Dunlop John L. Dunlop is a successful race horse trainer based in Arundel, Sussex, with over 3000 winners between 1966 and 2002.He was the British flat racing Champion Trainer in 1995.... |
|
1983 | Sylph | 3 | Tony Ives | Jeremy Tree Jeremy Tree Arthur Jeremy Tree, was a British Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.-Background:Born into a prominent London, England family, Tree was always known by his middle name, Jeremy. His father was Ronald Tree, an American-born British journalist, investor and Conservative Member of Parliament for the... |
|
1984 | One Way Street | 3 | Lester Piggott Lester Piggott Lester Keith Piggott is a retired English professional jockey, popularly known as "The Long Fellow". With 4,493 career wins, including nine Epsom Derby victories, he is one of the most well-known English flat racing jockeys of all time.... |
Henry Cecil Henry Cecil Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.... |
|
1985 | Free Guest | 4 | Rae Guest | Luca Cumani Luca Cumani Luca M. Cumani is an Italian thoroughbred horse trainer. He has trained at Bedford House Stables in Newmarket, England since 1976... |
|
1986 | Tashtiya | 3 | Walter Swinburn Walter Swinburn Walter R. Swinburn is a retired flat racing jockey who competed in Great Britain and Ireland as well as internationally.Swinburn was born in Oxford... |
Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
|
no race 1987 | |||||
1988 | Banket | 3 | Brian Rouse | John Dunlop John L. Dunlop John L. Dunlop is a successful race horse trainer based in Arundel, Sussex, with over 3000 winners between 1966 and 2002.He was the British flat racing Champion Trainer in 1995.... |
2:40.66 |
1989 | Snow Bride Snow Bride Snow Bride is a British thoroughbred race horse sired by Blushing Groom. She was owned by Sheikh Mohammed and trained in the United Kingdom by Henry Cecil. She is in the record books as having won the Epsom Oaks in 1989 by disqualification after the Aga Khan's winning filly Aliysa tested positive... |
3 | Steve Cauthen Steve Cauthen Steve Cauthen is a retired American jockey.Cauthen, the son of a trainer and a farrier, grew up in Walton, Kentucky around horses, which made race-riding a logical career choice. He rode his first race on May 12, 1976 at Churchill Downs; he finished last, riding King of Swat... |
Henry Cecil Henry Cecil Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.... |
2:30.73 |
1990 | Narwala | 3 | Pat Eddery Pat Eddery Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:... |
Luca Cumani Luca Cumani Luca M. Cumani is an Italian thoroughbred horse trainer. He has trained at Bedford House Stables in Newmarket, England since 1976... |
2:30.36 |
1991 | Always Friendly | 3 | Alan Munro Alan Munro (jockey) Alan Munro is a top English flat racing jockey and considered one of the most successful English jockeys in the history of the sport.He has won many major races including the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby in 1991... |
Henry Candy | 2:38.78 |
1992 | Cunning | 3 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Luca Cumani Luca Cumani Luca M. Cumani is an Italian thoroughbred horse trainer. He has trained at Bedford House Stables in Newmarket, England since 1976... |
2:36.19 |
no race 1993 | |||||
1994 | Dancing Bloom | 4 | Walter Swinburn Walter Swinburn Walter R. Swinburn is a retired flat racing jockey who competed in Great Britain and Ireland as well as internationally.Swinburn was born in Oxford... |
Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
2:34.15 |
1995 | Labibeh | 3 | Willie Carson Willie Carson William Fisher Hunter Carson, OBE is a retired jockey in thoroughbred horse racing.-Life and career:Best known as "Miserable Willie", Carson was born in Stirling, Scotland. In 1957 he was apprenticed to Captain Gerald Armstrong at his stables at Tupgill, North Yorkshire... |
John Dunlop John L. Dunlop John L. Dunlop is a successful race horse trainer based in Arundel, Sussex, with over 3000 winners between 1966 and 2002.He was the British flat racing Champion Trainer in 1995.... |
2:41.86 |
1996 | Time Allowed | 3 | John Reid John A. Reid John Andrew Reid John Andrew Reid John Andrew Reid (born August 6, 1955 in Banbridge County Down, Northern Ireland is a retired flat race jockey.Reid served as an apprentice in his native Ireland to Leslie Crawford, before moving to England and joining Verley Bewicke. His first Classic victory came... |
Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
2:33.44 |
1997 | Delilah | 3 | Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier is a thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Peslier competes in flat racing mainly in France but travels often around the world for the big international races.... |
Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
2:45.33 |
1998 | Silver Rhapsody | 3 | Kieren Fallon Kieren Fallon Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times.... |
Henry Cecil Henry Cecil Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.... |
2:43.68 |
1999 | Signorina Cattiva | 3 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
John Dunlop John L. Dunlop John L. Dunlop is a successful race horse trainer based in Arundel, Sussex, with over 3000 winners between 1966 and 2002.He was the British flat racing Champion Trainer in 1995.... |
2:35.40 |
2000 | Sacred Song | 3 | Richard Quinn | Henry Cecil Henry Cecil Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.... |
2:31.86 |
2001 | Head in the Clouds | 3 | Pat Eddery Pat Eddery Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:... |
John Dunlop John L. Dunlop John L. Dunlop is a successful race horse trainer based in Arundel, Sussex, with over 3000 winners between 1966 and 2002.He was the British flat racing Champion Trainer in 1995.... |
2:35.73 |
2002 | Love Everlasting | 4 | Kevin Darley Kevin Darley Kevin Darley is a retired jockey, and a co-president of the Jockeys' Association of Great Britain... |
Mark Johnston | 2:33.55 |
2003 | Itnab | 3 | Richard Hills | Ben Hanbury | 2:34.16 |
2004 | Mazuna | 3 | Ryan Moore | Clive Brittain Clive Brittain Clive Brittain is a British race-horse trainer. He began training as an apprentice in 1949, and on his own as a licensed trainer in the early 1970s. He currently trains at Carlburg Stables in Newmarket, Suffolk... |
2:30.24 |
2005 | Ouija Board | 4 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Ed Dunlop | 2:32.45 |
2006 | Acts of Grace | 3 | Kerrin McEvoy | John Dunlop John L. Dunlop John L. Dunlop is a successful race horse trainer based in Arundel, Sussex, with over 3000 winners between 1966 and 2002.He was the British flat racing Champion Trainer in 1995.... |
2:35.64 |
2007 | Trick or Treat | 4 | Tom Queally Tom Queally Thomas P. Queally is a Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began his professional career in 2000 while still attending school... |
James Given | 2:36.93 |
2008 | Crystal Capella | 3 | Ryan Moore | Sir Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
2:31.48 |
2009 | Ashalanda | 3 | Christophe Lemaire Christophe Lemaire Christophe Patrice Lemaire is a French-born jockey. He takes his middle name from his father, who made a name for himself in the world of French handicap racing.In 1999 he obtained the licence required for a French jockey, and began racing... |
Alain de Royer-Dupré Alain de Royer-Dupré Alain de Royer-Dupré is a leading French thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He grew up at the Haras de Saint Lô, a national stud farm in Normandy of which his father was Assistant Director and later Director, responsible for government-owned stallions based at farms in the local... |
2:31.55 |
2010 | Crystal Capella | 5 | Ryan Moore | Sir Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
2:34.73 |
2011 | Dancing Rain | 3 | Johnny Murtagh Johnny Murtagh Johnny Murtagh is a Irish flat racing jockey from Bohermeen, Navan, County Meath.He excels on the big stage, having won many Group 1 races around the world... |
William Haggas | 2:27.29 |
The 1987 and 1993 runnings were abandoned because of a waterlogged course.
The 2000 and 2005 editions were temporarily switched from Ascot to Newmarket.
Earlier winners
* The 1960 and 1963 runnings took place at NewburyNewbury Racecourse
Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps...
.
See also
- Horseracing in Great Britain
- List of British flat horse races
Recurring events established in 1946 – the British Champion Fillies' & Mares' Stakes is included under its original title, Princess Royal Stakes.