Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
| Group 1 race | |
| Location |
Ascot Racecourse Ascot, England |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1955 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Sponsor | QIPCO |
| Website | Ascot |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile (1,609 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Straight |
| Qualification | Three-years-old and up |
| Weight | 9 st 1 lb (3yo); 9 st 4 lb (4yo+) Allowances 3 lb for fillies and mares |
| Purse | £1,157,525 (2016) 1st: £656,432 |
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place as part of British Champions Day each year in October.
The event was established in 1955, and it was originally held in September. It was created when a race called the Knights' Royal Stakes was renamed in honour of Queen Elizabeth II. The first three winners were all trained in France.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the "QEII" was initially given Group 2 status. It was promoted to Group 1 level in 1987.
The race was added to the Breeders' Cup Challenge series in 2008. From this point the winner earned an automatic invitation to compete in the Breeders' Cup Mile. It was removed from the series in 2012.
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes was switched to October in 2011. It became part of a new fixture called British Champions Day, and its prize fund was increased fourfold to £1,000,000. It now serves as the mile-category final of the British Champions Series.
Most successful horse (2 wins):
Leading jockey (8 wins):
Leading trainer (5 wins):
Leading owner (5 wins):
a The 1974 running was abandoned because of a waterlogged course.
b The 2005 edition was held at Newmarket.
* The 1960 and 1963 runnings took place at Newbury.
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