Sandown Classic Trial
Group 3 race | |
Location | Sandown Park Esher, England |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1953 |
Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
Sponsor | Bet365 |
Website | Sandown Park |
Race information | |
Distance | 1m 1f 209y (2,002 m) |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Right-handed |
Qualification | Three-year-olds |
Weight | 9 st 1 lb Allowances 3 lb for fillies Penalties 4 lb for Group 1 or Group 2 winners * * since 31 August last year |
Purse | £70,000 (2019) 1st: £39,697 |
2020 | ||
Berlin Tango | Pyledriver | Bright Melody |
The Sandown Classic Trial is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 1 furlong and 209 yards (2,002 metres) at Sandown Park in late April.
History
The event was established in 1953, and it was originally called the Royal Stakes.[1] The first running was won by Mountain King.
Ladbrokes became the sponsor of the race in 1971, and from this point it was known as the Ladbroke Classic Trial.[2] It took place at Kempton Park in 1973.[3]
Subsequent sponsors have included The Guardian, Thresher and Betfred. The online gambling company Bet365 took over the sponsorship in 2008.
The Sandown Classic Trial is staged during a two-day meeting which features both flat and jump races. Other events at the meeting include the Bet365 Gold Cup, the Celebration Chase, the Gordon Richards Stakes and the Sandown Mile.
The race can serve as a trial for the Epsom Derby. The last participant to win the Derby was Benny the Dip, the runner-up in 1997.
Records
Leading jockey (5 wins):
- Lester Piggott – Sun Charger (1957), Snow Cat (1958), Ferneley (1962), Sun Rock (1967), Artaius (1977)
Leading trainer (9 wins):
- John Gosden – Pollen Count (1992), True Hero (1993), Linney Head (1994), Santillana (1996), Centennial (2008), Azmeel (2010), Western Hymn (2014), Cunco (2017), Sevenna Star (2018)
Winners since 1974
- ^ Chabal finished first in 2010, but he was subsequently disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance
- ^ The 2020 race was run at Kempton Park in June, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
.
Earlier winners
- 1953: Mountain King
- 1954: Taw Valley
- 1955: Peter Aegus
- 1956: Pearl Orama
- 1957: Sun Charger
- 1958: Snow Cat
- 1959: Casque
- 1960: Marengo
- 1961: Just Great
- 1962: Ferneley
- 1963: Raise You Ten
- 1964: Oncidium
- 1965: Nearside
- 1966: Mehari
- 1967: Sun Rock
- 1968: Safety Match
- 1969: Shoemaker
- 1970: Cry Baby
- 1971: L'Apache
- 1972: Pentland Firth
- 1973: Ksar[a]
- ^ The 1973 running took place at Kempton Park
See also
- Horse racing in Great Britain
- List of British flat horse races
- Recurring sporting events established in 1953 – this race is included under its original title, Royal Stakes.
References
- ^ "1953 Royal Stakes". Glasgow Herald. 25 April 1953. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ "1972 Ladbroke Classic Trial". Glasgow Herald. 21 April 1972. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ "1973 Ladbroke Classic Trial". Glasgow Herald. 28 April 1973. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- Paris-Turf:
- Racing Post:
- galopp-sieger.de – Sandown Classic Trial (ex Royal Stakes).
- ifhaonline.org – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Bet365 Classic Trial (2019).
- pedigreequery.com – Sandown Classic Trial – Sandown.
- Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books. p. 22. ISBN 1-873626-15-0.