The Queen Anne Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.
The event was established in 1840, and during the early part of its history it was called the Trial Stakes. It was originally open to horses aged three or older. It was renamed in honour of Queen Anne, the founder of Ascot Racecourse, in 1930.
The Queen Anne Stakes was classed as a Group 3 race in 1971, and it was promoted to Group 2 level in 1984. It was given Group 1 status in 2003, and at this point the minimum age of participating horses was raised to four.
It is now the first race on the opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting.
Read more about Queen Anne Stakes: Records, Winners Since 1980, Earlier Winners
Famous quotes containing the words queen and/or stakes:
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While you are forced to your empty breast
A skeleton Babe to hold”
—Amelia Edwards (1831–1892)
“Law makes long spokes of the short stakes of men.”
—William Empson (1906–1984)