British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes
| Group 1 race | |
| Location |
Ascot Racecourse Ascot, England |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1946 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Sponsor | QIPCO |
| Website | Ascot |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1m 4f (2,414 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Three-years-old and up fillies and mares |
| Weight | 8 st 12 lb (3yo); 9 st 5 lb (4yo+) |
| Purse | £600,000 (2016) 1st £340,260 |
The British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2,414 metres) as part of British Champions Day at Ascot in October.
The event was established in 1946 and was originally called the Princess Royal Stakes. It was named after the Princess Royal at that time, Princess Mary. For a period it took place in September, and it later moved to October.
The current system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Princess Royal Stakes subsequently held Group 3 status.
The race was run at Newmarket in 2000, after being called off at Ascot due to a security alert. It was switched to Ascot's late September fixture in 2004. It took place at Newmarket again in 2005, as its usual home was closed for redevelopment. It reverted to October in 2007.
The event was promoted to Group 2 level, transferred to Newmarket and renamed the Pride Stakes in 2008. It was named after Pride, a recent winner of the Champion Stakes. From this point it was staged during the venue's Champions' Meeting in mid-October. The title "Princess Royal Stakes" was assigned to a different race at Ascot, an event previously called the Harvest Stakes. The Pride Stakes had a purse of £100,000 in 2010.
The race returned to Ascot and was given its present name in 2011. Its prize fund was now £250,000. Part of the newly created British Champions Day, it became the final race in the fillies & mares division of the British Champions Series.
The British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes was upgraded to Group 1 in 2013. Its total prize money was doubled to £500,000. The title Pride Stakes was given to a Listed race at Newmarket formerly known as the Severals Stakes.
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