The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile 1 furlong and 212 yards (2,004 metres), and it is scheduled to take place as part of British Champions Day each year in October.
| Group 1 race | |
 | |
| Location | Ascot Racecourse Ascot, England (since 2011) |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1877 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Sponsor | QIPCO |
| Website | Ascot |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1m 1f 212y (2,004 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Three-years-old and up |
| Weight | 9 st 1 lb (3yo); 9 st 5 lb (4yo+) Allowances 3 lb for fillies and mares |
| Purse | £1,278,210 (2022) 1st: £737,230 |
| 2023 | ||
 |  |  |
| King Of Steel | Via Sistina | Horizon Dore |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ||
 |  |  |
| Bay Bridge | Adayar | My Prospero |
| 2021 | ||
|  |  |
| Sealiway | Dubai Honour | Mac Swiney |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ||
 |  |  |
| Addeybb | Skalleti | Magical |
| 2019 | ||
| |  |
| Magical | Addeybb | Deirdre |
| 2018 | ||
 |  |  |
| Cracksman | Crystal Ocean | Subway Dancer |
| 2017 | ||
|  | |
| Cracksman | Poet's Word | Highland Reel |
| 2016 | ||
 |  | |
| Almanzor | Found | Jack Hobbs |
| 2015 | ||
 | | |
| Fascinating Rock | Found | Jack Hobbs |
| 2014 | ||
 |  |  |
| Noble Mission | Al Kazeem | Free Eagle |
| 2013 | ||
|  |  |
| Farhh | Cirrus Des Aigles | Ruler Of The World |
| 2012 | ||
| |  |
| Frankel | Cirrus Des Aigles | Nathaniel |
| 2011 | ||
| |  |
| Cirrus Des Aigles | So You Think | Snow Fairy |
| 2010–2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
|  |  |
| Twice Over | Vision D'Etat | Debussy |
| 2009 | ||
|  |  |
| Twice Over | Mawatheeq | Sariska |
| 2008 | ||
| |  |
| New Approach | Twice Over | Linngari |
| 2007 | ||
 | |  |
| Literato | Eagle Mountain | Doctor Dino |
| 2006 | ||
 |  | |
| Pride | Rob Roy | Hurricane Run |
| 2005 | ||
 | | |
| David Junior | Pride | Maraahel |
| 2004 | ||
|  |  |
| Haafhd | Chorist | Azamour |
| 2003 | ||
 | |  |
| Rakti | Carnival Dancer | Indian Creek |
| 2002 | ||
 |  | |
| Storming Home | Moon Ballad | Noverre |
| 2001 | ||
| | |
| Nayef | Tobougg | Indian Creek |
| 2000–1991 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
| | |
| Kalanisi | Montjeu | Distant Music |
| 1999 | ||
 |  | |
| Alborada | Shiva | Kabool |
| 1998 | ||
|  | |
| Alborada | Insatiable | Daylami |
| 1997 | ||
 |  | |
| Pilsudski | Loup Sauvage | Bahhare |
| 1996 | ||
 | | |
| Bosra Sham | Halling | Timarida |
| 1995 | ||
|  |  |
| Spectrum | Riyadian | Montjoy |
| 1994 | ||
|  | |
| Dernier Empereur | Grand Lodge | Muhtarram |
| 1993 | ||
|  |  |
| Hatoof | Ezzoud | Dernier Empereur |
| 1992 | ||
 | |  |
| Rodrigo De Triano | Lahib | Environment Friend |
| 1991 | ||
 |  |  |
| Tel Quel | Cruachan | In The Groove |
| 1990–1981 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | ||
|  |  |
| In The Groove | Linamix | Legal Case |
| 1989 | ||
| |  |
| Legal Case | Dolpour | Ile De Chypre |
| 1988 | ||
|  | |
| Indian Skimmer | Persian Heights | Doyoun |
| 1987 | ||
 |  |  |
| Triptych | Most Welcome | Saint Andrews |
| 1986 | ||
|  |  |
| Triptych | Celestial Storm | Park Express |
| 1985 | ||
| |  |
| Pebbles | Slip Anchor | Palace Music |
| 1984 | ||
| | |
| Palace Music | Pebbles | Raft |
| 1983 | ||
 |  |  |
| Cormorant Wood | Flame of Tara | Miramar Reef |
| 1982 | ||
 |  | |
| Time Charter | Prima Voce | Noalto |
| 1981 | ||
|  |  |
| Vayrann | Cairn Rouge | Amyndas |
| 1980–1971 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | ||
 | |  |
| Cairn Rouge | Master Willie | Nadjar |
| 1979 | ||
 |  |  |
| Northern Baby | Town and Country | Haul Knight |
| 1978 | ||
 | |  |
| Swiss Maid | Hawaiian Sound | Gunner |
| 1977 | ||
|  |  |
| Flying Water | Relkino | North Stoke |
| 1976 | ||
 |  |  |
| Vitiges | Rose Bowl | Northern Treasure |
| 1975 | ||
| |  |
| Rose Bowl | Allez France | Ramirez |
| 1974 | ||
 |  |  |
| Giacometti | Northern Gem | Pitcairn |
| 1973 | ||
 | |  |
| Hurry Harriet | Allez France | Sharp Edge |
| 1972 | ||
 |  |  |
| Brigadier Gerard | Riverman | Lord David |
| 1971 | ||
|  |  |
| Brigadier Gerard | Rarity | Welsh Pageant |
| 1970–1969 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | ||
| |  |
| Lorenzaccio | Nijinsky | Hotfoot |
| 1969 | ||
 |  | |
| Flossy | Park Top | Lorenzaccio |
History
The event was established in 1877, and it was originally held at Newmarket. The inaugural running was won by Springfield. By the end of the century it had been won by five Classic winners.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Champion Stakes was classed at the highest level, Group 1.
The race was included in the Breeders' Cup Challenge series in 2009 and 2010. The winner earned an automatic invitation to compete in the Breeders' Cup Turf.
The Champion Stakes was transferred to Ascot in 2011. It became part of a newly created fixture called British Champions Day. It now serves as the middle-distance final of the British Champions Series.
With an increased prize fund of £1,300,000, the Champion Stakes was Britain's richest horse race in 2011. The status was reclaimed by The Derby in 2012.[1]
Records
Most successful horse (3 wins):
- Tristan – 1882, 1883, 1884
Leading jockey (6 wins):
- Danny Maher – Osboch (1901), Pretty Polly (1905), Polymelus (1906), Llangwm (1908), Bayardo (1909), Lemberg (1910)
- Charlie Elliott – Ellangowan (1923), Asterus (1927), Goyescas (1931), Djeddah (1949), Dynamiter (1951, 1952)
Leading trainer (8 wins):
- Alec Taylor Jr. – Sceptre (1903), Bayardo (1909), Lemberg (1910, 1911), Gay Crusader (1917), My Dear (1918), Buchan (1919), Picaroon (1925)
Leading owner (6 wins):
- HH Aga Khan III – Rustom Pasha (1930), Dastur (1933, dead-heat), Umidwar (1934), Nasrullah (1943), Migoli (1947), Hafiz (1955)
Dam of two winners:
- Kind- Frankel (2012) Noble Mission (2014)
Winners
See also
References
- Paris-Turf:
- Racing Post:
- galopp-sieger.de – Champion Stakes.
- horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Champion Stakes (2018).
- pedigreequery.com – Champion Stakes.
- Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books. pp. 212–214. ISBN 1-873626-15-0.
- Race Recordings [1]