The Queen Elizabeth Stakes, formerly known as the Queen's Plate, AJC Plate, and AJC King's Cup, is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race run over a distance of 2,000 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia, in the autumn during the ATC Championships series.[1] Prize money in 2013 was A$500,000 and was increased to A$4,000,000 in 2014 to become the richest race of the Sydney Autumn Carnival and as of 2020 the third richest WFA race in Australia (after the W. S. Cox Plate and the Everest).[2]
Group 1 race | |
Location | Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1851 (as Queen's Plate) |
Race type | Thoroughbred |
Sponsor | Longines (2023) |
Race information | |
Distance | 2,000 metres |
Surface | Turf |
Qualification | Three year old and older |
Weight | weight-for-age |
Purse | $4,000,000 (2023) |
History
editThe origins of this race are firmly associated with colonial Sydney and the growth of thoroughbred racing in the colony during the 1840s and 1850s. The Australian Jockey Club initiated an autumn race meet which coincided with the Easter holiday period and created several races which exist even today. One of these races was the Queen's Plate in honour of Queen Victoria which was first run in 1851 over a distance of about 3 miles.
Through the early 20th century the race continued to hold its prestige, but with the decline in long distance racing, the AJC focused on the Sydney Cup as the premier long distance event of the AJC Autumn Carnival.[3] By the mid 1950s the race had changed its name and had its distance shortened.[1] Distance was changed several times until today's distance of 2000 metres in 1986.[1]
The ATC focused on the Queen Elizabeth Stakes as it became the A$4,000,000 signature event of a new Sydney autumn racing series called "The Championships", attracting international entries.[2]
Name
edit- 1851–1872 - Queen's Plate[4]
- 1873–1927 - AJC Plate
- 1928 - AJC King's Cup[5]
- 1929–1933 - AJC Plate
- 1934 - AJC King's Cup[6]
- 1935–1954 - AJC Plate
- 1954 onwards - Queen Elizabeth Stakes[4]
In February 1954, Queen Elizabeth II visited Australia[7] and the Australian Jockey Club consequently named a new race in her honour.[8] She was present at Randwick on 6 February 1954 and witnessed 33/1 long shot Blue Ocean win the race with a track record of 2 minutes 27+3⁄4 seconds for the 1+1⁄2 miles race.[7][9]
On the last day of the 1954 AJC Autumn Carnival was the last-named race for the AJC Plate, as Lancaster won the Weight for Age 2-mile race.[10] The next year, on the last day of 1955 AJC Autumn Carnival held on 16 April 1955, the fourth race on the card was the Queen Elizabeth Randwick Stakes over a distance of 1+3⁄4 miles.[11]
Distance
edit- 1851–1913 – 3 miles (~4800 metres)
- 1914 - 1+1⁄2 miles (~2400 metres)
- 1915–1922 – 3 miles (~4800 metres)
- 1923–1927 - 2+1⁄4 miles (~3600 metres)
- 1928 - 1+1⁄2 miles (~2400 metres) (AJC Kings Cup)
- 1929–1933 - 2+1⁄4 miles (~3600 metres)
- 1934 - 1+1⁄2 miles (~2400 metres) (AJC Kings Cup)
- 1935–1941 - 2+1⁄4 miles (~3600 metres)
- 1944–1946 - 1+3⁄4 miles (~2800 metres)
- 1947–1953 - 2+1⁄4 miles (~3600 metres)
- 1954 - 1+1⁄2 miles (~2400 metres) (Queen Elizabeth Stakes)
- 1954 – 2 miles (~3200 metres) (AJC Plate)
- 1955–1969 - 1+3⁄4 miles (~2800 metres)
- 1970–1971 - 1+1⁄2 miles (~2400 metres)
- 1972 - 1+3⁄4 miles (~2800 metres)
- 1973–1978 – 2400 metres
- 1979–1983 – 2000 metres
- 1984–1985 – 2400 metres
- 1986 onwards - 2000 metres
1934 racebook
edit-
Front cover of the 1934 AJC Kings Cup racebook
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Inside cover of the 1934 AJC Kings Cup showing raceday officials
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Starters and results of the 1934 Kings Cup showing the winner, Rogilla
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Starters and results of the 1934 Kings Cup
-
1934 AJC Kings Cup racebook showing semaphore flags
-
Back cover showing charges at the entrance gates
1954 racebook
edit-
Front page 1954 AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes racebook
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1954 AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes showing raceday officials
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Starters and results 1954 Queen Elizabeth Stakes
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Starters and results 1954 Queen Elizabeth Stakes
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Starters and results 1954 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. showing the winner, Blue Ocean
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1954 AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes showing Band Entertainment program
Records
editOnly Carbine (1889–91), Trafalgar (1909, 1911–12), David (1921–23) and Tulloch (1958, 1960–61) have won the race 3 times. Winx (10-1 on/1-10) as heavy favourite won the race for a third successive time on 13 April 2019.
The 19th century horse trainer Etienne L. de Mestre won the race 9 times, in 1862, 1868, 1870, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1876, 1878 and 1879.[12]
Winners
editQueen Elizabeth Stakes
edit- 2024 - Pride Of Jenni
- 2023 - Dubai Honour[13]
- 2022 - Think It Over[14]
- 2021 - Addeybb[15]
- 2020 - Addeybb[16]
- 2019 - Winx[17]
- 2018 - Winx[18]
- 2017 - Winx[19]
- 2016 - Lucia Valentina[20]
- 2015 - Criterion[21]
- 2014 - It's A Dundeel[22]
- 2013 - Reliable Man[23]
- 2012 - More Joyous[24]
- 2011 - My Kingdom of Fife[25]
- 2010 - Road To Rock[26]
- 2009 - Pompeii Ruler[27]
- 2008 - Sarrera[28]
- 2007 - Desert War[29]
- 2006 - Eremein[30]
- 2005 - Grand Armee[31]
- 2004 - Grand Armee[32]
- 2003 - Lonhro[33]
- 2002 - Defier[34]
- 2001 - Shogun Lodge[35]
- 2000 - Georgie Boy[36]
- 1999 - Intergaze[37]
- 1998 - Might And Power[38]
- 1997 - Intergaze[39]
- 1996 - Doriemus[40]
- 1995 - Jeune[41]
- 1994 - Durbridge[42]
- 1993 - Veandercross[43]
- 1992 - Rough Habit[44]
- 1991 - Stylish Century[45]
- 1990 - Sydeston[46]
- 1989 - Our Poetic Prince[47]
- 1988 - Authaal[48]
- 1987 - Dinky Flyer[49]
- 1986 - Tristarc[50]
- 1985 - Rising Prince[51]
- 1984 - Chiamare[52]
- 1983 - Fountaincourt[53]
- 1982 - Prince Majestic
- 1981 - My Blue Denim
- 1980 - Iko
- 1979 - Shivaree
- 1978 - Ming Dynasty
- 1977 - Ngawyni
- 1976 - Taras Bulba
- 1975 - Jandell
- 1974 - Battle Heights
- 1973 - Apollo Eleven
- 1972 - Tails
- 1971 - Gay Icarus
- 1970 - Panvale
- 1969 - Lowland
- 1968 - General Command
- 1967 - Garcon
- 1966 - Prince Grant
- 1965 - Fair Patton
- 1964 - Summer Regent
- 1963 - Burgos
- 1962 - Nilarco
- 1961 - Tulloch
- 1960 - Tulloch
- 1959 - Caesar
- 1958 - Tulloch
- 1957 - Empire Link
- 1956 - Beaupa
- 1955 - Prince Cortauld
- 1954 - Blue Ocean
AJC Plate
edit- 1954 - Lancaster
- 1953 - Jan
- 1952 - Aristocrat
- 1951 - Playboy
- 1950 - Hurry Up
- 1949 - Carbon Copy
- 1948 - Russia
- 1947 - Russia
- 1946 - Flight
- 1945 - Craigie
- 1944 - Katanga
- 1943 - race not held
- 1942 - race not held
- 1941 - Beau Vite
- 1940 - Mosaic
- 1939 - Defaulter
- 1938 - Old Rowley
- 1937 - Allunga
- 1936 - Silver Ring
- 1935 - Master Brierly
- 1934 - Rogilla[54]
- 1933 - Peter Pan
- 1932 - Veilmond
- 1931 - The Dimmer
- 1930 - Phar Lap
- 1929 - Strephon
- 1928 - Limerick
- 1927 - Limerick
- 1926 - Windbag
- 1925 - Windbag
- 1924 - Rapine
- 1923 - David
- 1922 - David
- 1921 - David
- 1920 - Poitrel
- 1919 - Poitrel
- 1918 - Lanius
- 1917 - Kandos
- 1916 - Greencap
- 1915 - Ulva's Isle
- 1914 - Cagou
- 1913 - Harpist
- 1912 - Trafalgar
- 1911 - Trafalgar
- 1910 - Prince Foote
- 1909 - Trafalgar
- 1908 - Poseidon
- 1907 - Dividend
- 1906 - Tartan
- 1905 - Emir
- 1904 - Lord Cardigan
- 1903 - The Victory
- 1902 - Wakeful
- 1901 - La Carabine
- 1900 - La Carabine
- 1899 - Merloolas
- 1898 - Amberite
- 1897 - Newhaven
- 1896 - The Harvester
- 1895 - Havoc
- 1894 - Light Artillery
- 1893 - The Admiral
- 1892 - La Tosca
- 1891 - Carbine
- 1890 - Carbine
- 1889 - Carbine
- 1888 - Abercorn
- 1887 - Trident
- 1886 - Matchlock
- 1885 - Reginald
- 1884 - Legrand
- 1883 - Plunger
- 1882 - The Drummer
- 1881 - Progress
- 1880 - Caspian
- 1879 - Chester
- 1878 - Chester
- 1877 - Robinson Crusoe
- 1876 - Robin Hood
- 1875 - Lurline
- 1874 - Dagworth
Queen's Plate
edit- 1873 - ‡Dagworth
- 1872 - Hamlet
- 1871 - Tim Whiffler
- 1870 - Tim Whiffler
- 1869 - The Barb
- 1868 - †Tim Whiffler
- 1867 - Fishhook
- 1866 - Cossack
- 1865 - Canobie
- 1864 - Tarragon
- 1863 - Tarragon
- 1862 - Archer
- 1861 - Talleyrand
- 1860 - Gratis
- 1859 - Strop
- 1858 - Zoe
- 1857 - Veno
- 1856 - Cooramin
- 1855 - Vanguard
- 1854 - Sportsman
- 1853 - Sportsman
- 1852 - Cossack
- 1851 - Cossack
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Winners and Past Results for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes". Progroup Racing (Australia). 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ a b "The Championships" (PDF). australianturfclub.com.au. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ "Sydney Cup". horseracinginfo.com (Australia). 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Event History - Videos: Queen Elizabeth Stakes - The Weight for Age Championship". The Star: Championships. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
The race dates back to 1851 when it was called the Queen's Plate. It was renamed in 1954 in honour of Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Australia.
- ^ National Library of Australia (18 April 1928). "Limerick Wins Kings Cup". No. 57. Sydney Mail NSW. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- ^ National Library of Australia (9 April 1934). "Rogilla Wins Kings Cup". No. P 2. The Daily Telegraph Sydney. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ a b Miller, George (7 February 1954). "OUTSIDER BLUE OCEAN'S RECORD". The Sun-Herald. Sydney. p. 27. Retrieved 18 April 2013 – via Trove (Digitize newspaper).
- ^ "Event History - Videos: Queen Elizabeth Stakes - The Weight for Age Championship". The Star: Championships. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
The race dates back to 1851 when it was called the Queen's Plate. It was renamed in 1954 in honour of Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Australia.
- ^ Presnell, Max (18 April 2014). "When Harry met Lizzy: the story of the 1954 Queen Elizabeth Stakes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ "Lancaster might remain in Sydney". The Sun-Herald. Sydney. 25 April 1954. p. 25. Retrieved 18 April 2013 – via Trove (Digitize newspaper).
- ^ "Racing Form Guide (for Randwick)". The Sun-Herald. Sydney. 15 April 1955. p. 1 of 8 (insert section). Retrieved 18 April 2013 – via (Google News Archive (Digitize)).
- ^ "de Mestre Family Tree". de Mestre Family. tripod.com. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- ^ "2023Result – Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (held 8 April 2023)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ "2022 Result – Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (held 9 April 2022)". breednet.com.au. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ^ "Marquand Masterclass As Addeybb Defends Queen Elizabeth". racing.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "2020 Result – Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (held 11 April 2020)". racing.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "2019 Result – Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (held 13 April 2019)". racing.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "2018 Result – Longines Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 14 April 2018)". racing.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "2017 Result – Longines Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 8 April 2017)". racing.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "2016 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stakes (held 9 April 2016)". racing.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "2015 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stakes (held 11 April 2015)". racing.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "2014 Result – Longines Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 19 April 2014)". racing.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "2013 Result – Santos Coffee Queen Elizabeth (held 27 April 2013)". racing.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "2012 Result – Tabcorp Queen Elizabeth Stakes (held 28 April 2012)". racing.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "2011 Result – Hyland Queen Elizabeth Stakes (held 23 April 2011)". racing.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "2010 Result – Syd City Lexus Queen Elizabeth (held 24 April 2010)". racing.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "2009 Result – Emirates Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 25 April 2009)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "2008 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stakes (held 3 May 2008)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "2007 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 14 April 2007)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "2006 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 22 April 2006)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "2005 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 2 April 2005)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "2004 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 17 April 2004)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "2003 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 3 May 2003)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "2002 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 13 April 2002)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "2001 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stk (held 28 April 2001)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "2000 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 6 May 2000)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1999 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 17 April 1999)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1998 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 25 April 1998)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1997 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stakes (held 12 April 1997)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1996 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 20 April 1996)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1995 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 22 April 1995)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1994 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 9 April 1994)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1993 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 12 April 1993)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1992 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 20 April 1992)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1991 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 1 April 1991)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1990 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 16 April 1990)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1989 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 27 March 1989)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1988 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 4 April 1988)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1987 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 20 April 1987)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1986 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 31 March 1986)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1985 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 8 April 1985)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1984 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 23 April 1984)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "1983 Result – Queen Elizabeth Stks (held 4 April 1983)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ "KING'S CUP TO ROGILLA - A Thrilling Finish (Official 1934 Result AJC Kings Cup)". The Mercury (Hobart). 9 April 1934. p. 9 (column 4–5). Retrieved 18 April 2013 – via Trove (Digitize newspaper).
- ^ "Randwick Autumn Meeting (Official 1873 results and commentary)". The Argus. Melbourne. 21 April 1873. p. 6 (column 1). Retrieved 18 April 2013 – via Trove (Digitize newspaper).
It was decided to run off the dead heat after the last race... This was a splendid race, and only won by Dagworth by a short neck.
- ^ "The Australasian Turf Register". Google (Digitized books). The Australasian, Stillwell and Knight, Melbourne. 1873. p. 159. Retrieved 18 April 2013.