Royal Ascot: Churchill Stakes

The Hampton Court Stakes, a Group 3 race over 1 mile 2 furlongs, has been run under different titles for some considerable time, starting out as the ungraded Churchill Stakes, over 1 mile 4 furlongs, on the Saturday of the Ascot Heath fixture. Historically, the Churchill Stakes began as a 2 mile race in 1922 before being reduced to a mile and a half in 1950. The race was given Listed status in 1999 when it had a name change to the New Stakes, confusingly a former name of the Norfolk Stakes, and the distance was reduced to 1 mile 2 furlongs a year later in 2000. The race was then switched to the third day of the Royal meeting in 2002, when the meeting was extended to five days to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II, that year running as the New Stakes, but for the Royal meeting it was renamed the Hampton Court Stakes. The extension of Royal Ascot was initially intended to be for one year only, but the extra day was such a success that it was retained thereafter. The race is now regularly titled the Hampton Court Stakes, named after the Tudor Royal residence of Hampton Court, although the race was promoted to Group 3 level and renamed the Tercentenary Stakes in 2011. Its new title was introduced to mark the 300th anniversary of Ascot Racecourse, which staged its first race meeting in 1711, but in 2017 the race reverted to its previous name, the Hampton Court Stakes.
Early history:- On Tuesday 17th June 1919 the Churchill Stakes was contsted for the first time, although it resulted in a walk-over for Lord Glanely's HE. On Thursday 15th June 1922 the Churchill Stakes for 4-year-olds over 2 miles was won by The Winter King, owned by Lord Rosebery and ridden by Charlie Elliott, who defeated Glorioso and Arquebus by a head and a distance. On Saturday 17th June 1950 Ascot was extended to a fifth day for the first time in its history, and the feature of that Ascot Heath card was the Churchill Stakes over a mile and a half which was won by the Harry Wragg trained Jai Mahal (7/2 jt fav) who beat Royal Drake (10/1) and Solar (100/7) by a neck and 3 lengths.
Churchill Stakes 1949 Stakes 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 RIDING MILL Ken Gethin H Wragg Sir P Loraine 4/1
2 LAKE PLACID Eph Smith Watts Mr H J Joel 6/1
3 SARDA II C Elliott E Williams Mr P Vaughan 13/8 fav
4 FLUSH ROYAL W Cook Hartigan Mr J McLean 11/2
5 SANDASTRE G Richards G-Houghton Lt-Col J Innes 10/1
6 SIGNAL SERVICE T Burns Ireland Mr J M Rogers 100/8
7 GYPSE W Johnstone France HH Aga Khan 100/8
8 COUBRADOR A Wragg G Todd Sir W Cooke 100/8
9 ALPHEUS Burn T Leader Mr J S Barrington 20/1
10 ARGINE D L Jones Whiteman Mr J F Duff 33/1
11 ZEPHERIN J Sirett Swash Mrs M H Bowden 33/1
The Churchill Stakes over 2 miles was run on Wednesday 15th June 1949 and was won by a chestnut horse by Devonian out of Compress, winning a first prize of £1300 equivalent of £48,000 in 2020. Over round 135%
Hampton Court Stakes Group 3 1 mile 2 furlongs 2002 (1919)
                  1919
1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949