History
The race was inaugurated on 28 April 1814, five years after the 2,000 Guineas was first held. The 2,000 Guinea Stakes is for both colts and fillies. Like it’s predecessor, it was established by the Jockey Club under the command of Sir Charles Bunbury, who cofounded the Derby. Similarly, it was named according to its original prize fund. A guinea was worth 21 shillings or £1.05 at that point in time. Of course, the Guinea reference is now defunct and is rarely mentioned in the mainstream.
The 1,000 Guinea Stakes had blossomed into one of the most prestigious races for horses aged 3 in Britain by the mid-1860S.
Course
It takes place at Newmarket over the same Rowley Mile, the Sunday after the 2,000 Guinea Stakes has been held.
Past winners
66-1 outsider Billesdon Brook caused a massive upset when he stormed to victory at the 1,000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket on
Sunday 6th May 2018. He became the highest priced victor in the race’s history, dating back to 1814. . The highest winning jockey of all time is George Fordham, who won in more than seven occasions: Mayonnaise in 1859, Nemesis in 1861, Siberia in 1865, Formosa in 1868, Scottish Queen in 1869, Thebais in 1881 and Hauteur in 1883.
Charlotte won the first running in 1814, and from there Robert Robson successfully trained nine winners. These were Corinne in 1818, Catgut in 1819, Rowena in 1820, Zeal in 1821, Whizgig in1822, Zinc in 1823, Tontine in 1825, Problem in 1826, and Arab in 1827.
The 4th Duke of Grafton owned the last eight of those successes, and is hailed as the most successful owner in the history
of the 1,000 Guineas Stakes. This feat has never been achieved after the Duke’s name was inked in the racing books.
Prize money
In 2017, the purse for the 1,000 Guineas was £500,000 and the winner pocketed £283,550, with the rest of the
money going to the runners up in the event.