The Queen Mary Stakes was inaugurated in 1921 and is named after Mary of Teck, who was queen consort of the United Kingdom from the accession of her husband, King George V, to the throne on May 6, 1910 until his death on January 20, 1936. Currently scheduled as the opening race on the second … Read more
Inaugurated in 1834 and named after the official residence of the British monarch until 1837, in the City of Westminster, London, the St. James’s Palace Stakes is a prestigious and valuable contest, currently worth £600,000 in total prize money. Currently staged on the opening day of Royal Ascot, in June each year, the race is … Read more
At the time of writing, Tipperary-born jockey Shane Crosse, 21, has recently announced his retirement after admitting defeat in his battle with the scales. Reflecting on what the ‘Racing Post’ described as ‘his prolific six years in the saddle’, Crosse said, ‘Obviously my weight has been an issue for a few years, but I’ve been … Read more
Lester Piggott, 85, recently made headlines as an inaugural inductee of Qipco British Champions Series Hall of Fame, created to celebrate the modern history of Flat racing in Britain. Of course, Piggott won the English Triple Crown – that is, the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and St. Leger – on Nijinsky in 1970 but, all told, … Read more
