Royal Ascot - Race Histories

2.30pm The Albany Stakes (Group 3)

This race was first run in 2002 as the Henry Carnarvon Stakes, honouring the former racing manager of Queen Elizabeth II, and proved so successful that it was promoted to Group 3 status in 2005. Restricted to two-year-old fillies, the six-furlong event provides one of the first opportunities of the season for promising types to prove their ability and go on to harbour Guineas aspirations.

3.05pm The Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

The Commonwealth Cup was a completely new race in 2015 and joined the King’s Stand Stakes and Platinum Jubilee Stakes to become the third Group 1 sprint at Royal Ascot. The race, run over six furlongs, is restricted to three-year-old colts and fillies and was introduced as a Europe-wide measure to create a better Pattern for young sprinters and improve the quality of sprint races across the continent. Several races in the run up to the Commonwealth Cup were promoted in tandem, including the Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot in April to Group 3. The 2019 renewal of the Commonwealth Cup, won by Advertise, was the joint highest rated three-year-old race in the world that year.

3.40pm The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap)

Originally known as the Bessborough Stakes, named after the 5th Earl of Bessborough, who was Master of the Buckhounds between 1848 and 1866, the race was renamed the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes in 1999. First run in 1914 as a five-furlong event for two-year-olds, it has now evolved into a middle distance handicap for three-year-olds and upward.

4.20pm The Coronation Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

First run in 1840 to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Victoria two years previously, the Coronation Stakes is for three-year-old fillies and regularly attracts the winners of the British, Irish and French 1,000 Guineas. It has also started to attract some of the top American fillies and so is a race that acts to crown the best of that year’s Classic generation over a mile. It was promoted to Group 1 level in 1988 and the most recent filly to follow up from a Guineas victory was Alpha Centauri who broke the track record when winning in 2018.

5.00pm The Sandringham Stakes (Handicap)

Originally registered as the Fern Hill Stakes, this race was part of the traditional Heath Day card on the Saturday after Royal Ascot. It was renamed after the Norfolk royal residence when the Royal Meeting was expanded to five days as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002. This is a competitive handicap over a mile, limited to three-year-old fillies only.

5.35pm The King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2)

Formerly known, and still colloquially referred to as the Ascot Derby, this race was inaugurated in 1834 and regularly featured horses of both sexes that had competed in the middle-distance Classics First run as the King Edward VII Stakes in 1926, it is now restricted to three-year-old colts and geldings. Three of the most recent winners, Japan, Pyledriver and Alenquer, all went on to Group 1 success.

6.10pm The Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap)

The final race today was among six prizes added to the Royal Ascot race programme in 2020. A five-furlong sprint for three-year-olds, Queen Elizabeth II graciously consented to the race name, which recognises the Monarchy’s official Scottish residence. A race with similar conditions used to be run regularly on the Saturday Heath Day card and featured as part of the full Royal Ascot programme in 2002 and 2003 as the Balmoral Handicap Upon its return in 2020, it was won by Art Power who went on to win a Group 3 at Naas before contesting the major Group 1 sprints later in the season.