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The St. James’s Palace Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts. It takes place annually during the Royal Ascot meeting, which is one of the most significant events in the British racing calendar and is eagerly awaited as soon as the jump racing season reaches its conclusion. The presence of the Royal Family at the racecourse is always a reason for excitement, but it is the racing itself that will dominate the headlines and the St. James’s Palace Stakes is regularly at the top of the list when it comes to exciting events for people to watch.
The race is run over a distance of just over seven furlongs on Ascot’s turf track. The St. James’s Palace Stakes was established in 1834 and has since become a highly respected race, attracting top-class horses from around the world. It is named after St. James’s Palace, which is located in central London and is the most senior of the Royal palaces in the capital. Whilst it’s no longer the principal residence of the monarch, it is where the Accession Council meets, in addition to the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps. It is also the London home of members of the Royal Family.
Race Facts
The race is not only limited to horses aged three, but also specifically to colts. The weight information attached to it is 9 stone 0 pounds, with the fact that it is only male horses that run in the race meaning that there is no allowance given to mares and fillies as you might find in other events. The race often features horses that have previously competed in the English 2,000 Guineas, which is another prestigious race held earlier in the season, as well as the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and the Irish 2,000 Guineas. The middle race is held at the French course of Longchamps in May of each year.
The St. James’s Palace Stakes is considered one of the premier events for milers, who are horses that specialise in middle-distance races. It looks to showcases the talents of promising three-year-old colts, which is why the limit is put in place on the gender and age of the entrants. Thankfully, there are plenty of other races run during the week of Royal Ascot that allow female horses and those of various ages to get their place in the spotlight. More often than not, the winner will make it home in a time of around one minute and 40 seconds, though this has been beaten a few times over the years.
About The Race
The St. James’s Palace Stakes took place for the first time in 1834, with the first outing being a complete letdown on account of the fact that it was a walkover. Plenipotentiary won it without even needing to do anything other than simply complete the course. It was given its name in honour of one of the Royal residences from the Tudor period, which fits in well with the manner in which Royal Ascot is all about the Royal Family. Whilst there have been some actual Royal James’s at one point or another over the years, the race wasn’t named after them specifically.
Indeed, St. James’s Palace was built by order of Henry VIII, with the site chosen being that that had previously housed a leper hospital that was dedicated to Saint James the Less, which is why the name was chosen. It wasn’t as important as the Palace of Whitehall to Tudor and Stuart monarchs, but became the central location for the Royal Family during the Hanoverian monarchs rule. It was eventually displaced by Buckingham Palace as the main residence of the Royals, but continues to house important offices of the Royal Family and is where the phrase ‘the Court of St. James’ comes from.
Because the race is limited to three-year-olds and always has been, no horse has ever won it more than once. The same is not true for the likes of jockeys, trainers and owners, however. Michael Kinane holds the record as a rider, having crossed the finish line in first place on six occasions. Of those wins, two in the form of Giant’s Causeway and Rock of Gibraltar came for the trainer Aidan O’Brien, who leads the way with eight wins on that front. They all come on behalf of Sue Magnier as the owner, meaning that no one has been able to usurp her as the most successful owner at the time of writing.
Race Trivia
When the present system for grading races was introduced in 1971, the St. James’s Palace Stakes was assigned to the Group 2 class of events. That changed in 1988 when it was promoted to become a Group 1 offering, which it has remained ever since. Run right-handed over seven furlongs and 213 yards, the St. James’s Palace Stakes has seen some remarkable champions over the years.
Notable horses such as Brigadier Gerard, Rock of Gibraltar, Canford Cliffs and Frankel have all tasted victory at one point or another. These winners have gone on to achieve success not only in this race but also in other major races worldwide.
Prominently Placed
The St. James’s Palace Stakes holds a prominent place in the Royal Ascot program, run as it is as the fourth race on the opening day of the meeting. Its reputation as a highly competitive and thrilling race adds to the excitement of the five-day event. The presence of the Royal Family at the racecourse means that the races themselves always gain a wealth of media attention, especially if they are prestigious enough to have been given the status of a Group 1 event. The winners are often much-touted, which is why names like Rock of Gibraltar are so well-known.
Global Competitors
The St. James’s Palace Stakes attracts entries from around the world, with horses from different countries vying for the prestigious title. It showcases the international appeal of Royal Ascot and the competitiveness of the race. This remained the case in 2005, even though Royal Ascot wasn’t held at Ascot that year and was instead run at York Racecourse. This was on account of the fact that the racecourse itself was undergoing refurbishment, but the fact that horses from around the world were still entered into it demonstrates just how good the pull of the race itself actually is.
Summary
The St. James’s Palace Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race held annually during the Royal Ascot meeting. It is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and takes place over a distance of just over seven furlongs on Ascot’s turf track. The race was established in 1834 and has attracted top-class horses from around the world to take part in it. Named after St. James’s Palace in central London, the race is considered to be one of the premier events for milers, showcasing the talents of promising three-year-olds. The race often features horses that have previously competed in other prestigious races such as the English 2,000 Guineas.
The St. James’s Palace Stakes holds a prominent place in the Royal Ascot program, typically being run as the fourth race on the opening day of the meeting. It attracts global competitors, highlighting the international appeal of Royal Ascot and the race itself. It combines history, royal associations and intense competition, making it a highly anticipated and exciting event within the Royal Ascot meeting. Some horses that would go on to make a name for themselves in the sport, such as Rock of Gibraltar, have won the race over the years.