Duke of York Stakes

Group 2 race
Duke of York Stakes

Location	York Racecourse York, England
Inaugurated	1968
Race type	Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor	Blue Square
Website	York
Race information
Distance	6f (1,207 metres)
Track	Turf, straight
Qualification	Three-years-old and up
Weight	8 st 11 lb (3yo); 9 st 7 lb (4yo+) Allowances 3 lb for fillies and mares Penalties 5 lb for Group 1 winners * 3 lb for Group 2 winners * * since August 31 last year
Purse	£100,000 (2011) 1st: £56,770

The Duke of York Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.

History

A different race called the Duke of York Stakes (or the Duke of York Handicap) was established at Kempton Park in 1892. For most of its history it was run over 1 mile and 2 furlongs, and it usually took place in October. Its winners included Sceptre (1903), Papyrus (1923) and Pharos (1924, 1925). It continued until the late 1950s.

The current version at York was first run in 1968. Although it was titled the Duke of York Stakes, there was no Duke of York at that time. The event was given Group 3 status in 1971, and it was promoted to Group 2 level in 2003.

The leading horses from the Duke of York Stakes often go on to compete in the following month's Golden Jubilee Stakes (formerly the Cork and Orrery Stakes). The last to win both races in the same year was Royal Applause in 1997.

The Duke of York Stakes is usually held on the opening day of York's three-day Dante Festival meeting, the day before the Dante Stakes.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

• Handsome Sailor – 1987, 1988

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Leading jockey (4 wins):

• Lester Piggott – The Brianstan (1971), Steel Heart (1975), Thatching (1979), Vorvados (1983)
• Steve Cauthen – Flash n' Thunder (1980), Jester (1982), Indian Ridge (1989), Lugana Beach (1990)
• Michael Hills – Handsome Sailor (1988), Owington (1994), Royal Applause (1997), Steenberg (2006)

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Leading trainer (7 wins):

• Barry Hills – Noble Mark (1974), Flash n' Thunder (1980), Jester (1982), Handsome Sailor (1987, 1988), Royal Applause (1997), Prime Defender (2010)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Time
1968	Hard Water	5	Joe Mercer	John Sutcliffe, Jr.
1969	Great Bear	5	Ron Hutchinson	John Dunlop
1970	Fluke	3	George Duffield	John Oxley
1971	The Brianstan	4	Lester Piggott	John Sutcliffe, Jr.
1972	Stilvi	3	John Gorton	Bruce Hobbs
1973	Abwah	4	Geoff Lewis	Noel Murless
1974	Noble Mark	3	Willie Carson	Barry Hills
1975	Steel Heart	3	Lester Piggott	Dermot Weld
1976	Three Legs	4	Gianfranco Dettori	Luca Cumani
1977	Boldboy	7	Willie Carson	Dick Hern
1978	Private Line	3	Edward Hide	Clive Brittain
1979	Thatching	4	Lester Piggott	Vincent O'Brien
1980	Flash n' Thunder	3	Steve Cauthen	Barry Hills
1981	King of Spain	5	Paul Cook	Peter Cundell
1982	Jester	3	Steve Cauthen	Barry Hills
1983	Vorvados	6	Lester Piggott	Michael Haynes
1984	Gabitat	6	Bob Curant	Brian Gubby
1985	Chapel Cottage	4	Philip Robinson	Mick Ryan
1986	Grey Desire	6	Kevin Darley	Mel Brittain	1:18.23
1987	Handsome Sailor	4	Cash Asmussen	Barry Hills	1:12.58
1988	Handsome Sailor	5	Michael Hills	Barry Hills	1:12.73
1989	Indian Ridge	4	Steve Cauthen	David Elsworth	1:10.17
1990	Lugana Beach	4	Steve Cauthen	David Elsworth	1:11.74
1991	Green Line Express	5	Tony Cruz	Mohammed Moubarak	1:11.33
1992	Shalford	4	Michael Roberts	Richard Hannon	1:08.82
1993	Hamas	4	Willie Carson	Peter Walwyn	1:12.22
1994	Owington	3	Michael Hills	Geoff Wragg	1:10.23
1995	Lake Coniston	4	Pat Eddery	Geoff Lewis	1:11.52
1996	Venture Capitalist	7	Ray Cochrane	David Nicholls	1:11.72
1997	Royal Applause	4	Michael Hills	Barry Hills	1:12.13
1998	Bollin Joanne	5	Kieren Fallon	Tim Easterby	1:10.91
1999	Sampower Star	3	Richard Hughes	Richard Hannon	1:12.59
2000	Lend a Hand	5	Frankie Dettori	Saeed bin Suroor	1:10.77
2001	Pipalong	5	Kevin Darley	Tim Easterby	1:11.20
2002	Invincible Spirit	5	Michael Kinane	John Dunlop	1:09.55
2003	Twilight Blues	4	Pat Smullen	Brian Meehan	1:10.79
2004	Monsieur Bond	4	Fergal Lynch	Bryan Smart	1:16.39
2005	The Kiddykid	5	Jamie Spencer	David Evans	1:15.93
2006	Steenberg	7	Michael Hills	Mark Tompkins	1:12.54
2007	Amadeus Wolf	4	Neil Callan	Kevin Ryan	1:10.20
2008	Assertive	5	Ryan Moore	Richard Hannon	1:10.71
2009	Utmost Respect	5	Paul Hanagan	Richard Fahey	1:10.70
2010	Prime Defender	6	Robert Winston	Barry Hills	1:11.19
2011	Delegator	5	Frankie Dettori	Saeed bin Suroor	1:10.18

See also

• Horseracing in Great Britain
• List of British flat horse races

References

• Racing Post:
  • 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
  • 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
  • 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

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• galopp-sieger.de – Duke of York Stakes.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Duke of York Stakes (2011).
• pedigreequery.com – Duke of York Stakes – York.
• Abelson, Edward; John Tyrrel (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books. pp. 44–45. ISBN 1-873626-15-0.