The Blandford Stakes is a

Group 2 The term Group 2 may refer to: * Alkaline earth metal, a chemical element classification * Astronaut Group 2, also known as The New Nine, the second group of astronauts selected by NASA in 1962 * Group 2 (racing), an FIA classification for cars in a ...

flat Flat or flats may refer to: Architecture * Flat (housing), an apartment in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and other Commonwealth countries Arts and entertainment * Flat (music), a symbol () which denotes a lower pitch * Flat (soldier), ...

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

in Ireland open to

thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

fillies A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use: *In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old. *In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, t ...

and

mare A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four ...

s aged three years or older. It is run at the

Curragh The Curragh ( ; ga, An Currach ) is a flat open plain of almost of common land in County Kildare. This area is well known for Irish horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is located on the edge of Kildare town, beside the ...

over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs (2,012 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

History

The event is named after

Blandford Blandford Forum ( ), commonly Blandford, is a market town in Dorset, England, sited by the River Stour about northwest of Poole. It was the administrative headquarters of North Dorset District until April 2019, when this was abolished and i ...

, a successful sire in the 1930s. It was formerly open to horses of either gender, and used to be contested over 1 mile and 4 furlongs. The race was held in mid-October during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Its distance was shortened by a furlong in 1994. It was relegated from Group 2 to Group 3 level in 1999, and from this point it took place in mid-September. The Blandford Stakes was cut to its present length and restricted to fillies and mares in 2001. It regained Group 2 status in 2004. It is currently part of the Irish Champions Weekend meeting.

Records

Most successful horse since 1947 (2 wins): * Nemain – ''1985, 1986'' * Red Bloom – ''2005, 2006'' * Shamreen - ''2016, 2017'' Leading

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

since 1950 (5 wins): *

Liam Ward Liam Ward (18 May 1930 – 4 October 2022) was an Irish jockey who competed in flat racing. He was Irish flat racing Champion Jockey six times and rode for leading trainers Paddy Prendergast and Vincent O'Brien. He was particularly noted for rid ...

– ''Beau Sire (1950), Do Well (1951), Jongleur (1956), Wenona (1968), Riboprince (1970)'' *

Michael Kinane Michael J. Kinane (born 22 June 1959, Killenaule, County Tipperary) is an Irish former flat racing jockey. He had a 34-year career, retiring on 8 December 2009. A prolific winner of the Irish, English and French Classic race ...

– ''Humbel (1995), Insatiable (1999), Chiang Mai (2000), Four Sins (2007), Katiyra (2008)'' *

Pat Smullen Patrick Joseph Smullen (22 May 1977 – 15 September 2020), was an Irish jockey who won the Irish flat racing Champion Jockey title nine times. In a career running from 1992 to 2018 he rode 1,845 winners in Ireland and 47 in Britain. Amongst his ...

- ''Irrestible Jewel (2002), Chinese White (2009), Tarfasha (2014), Shamreen (2016, 2017)'' Leading trainer since 1950 (15 wins): *

Vincent O'Brien Vincent O'Brien (9 April 1917 – 1 June 2009) was an Irish horse racing, race horse horse trainer, trainer from Churchtown, County Cork, Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland. In 2003 he was voted the greatest influence in horse racing history in ...

– ''Little Mo (1959), Silver Moon (1961), Donato (1965), Wenona (1968), Riboprince (1970), Wenceslas (1971), Manitoulin (1972), Richard Grenville (1974), King Pellinore (1975), Gonzales (1980), (1981), Lords (1982), South Atlantic (1983), Kris Kringle (1988), Andros Bay (1992)''

Winners since 1980

Earlier winners

* 1947: Esprit de France * 1948: Wild Johnnie * 1949: Pink Larkspur * 1950: Beau Sire * 1951: Do Well * 1952: Thirteen of Diamonds * 1953: Ardent Lover * 1954: Northern Gleam * 1955: Nile Bird * 1956: Jongleur * 1957: Roistar * 1958: Royal Highway * 1959: Little Mo * 1960: Hunch * 1961: Silver Moon * * 1962: Sicilian Prince * 1963: Feemoss * 1964: Biscayne * 1965: Donato * 1966: Royal Display * 1967: Dominion Day * 1968: Wenona * 1969: Barrons Court * 1970: Riboprince * 1971: Wenceslas * 1972: Manitoulin * 1973: Miss Therese * 1974: Richard Grenville * 1975: King Pellinore * 1976:

Northern Treasure Northern Treasure (foaled 18 February 1973) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old in 1975 he won twice, finished second six times and third once from nine races, showing consistent form but appearing to be some way sh ...

* 1977: Panamint * 1978: Valley Forge * 1979: Bohemian Grove * The 1961 winner ''Silver Moon'' was later renamed ''Silver Dollar''.

References

* Paris-Turf: **, , , , , *

Racing Post ''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing and sports betting publisher which is published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of 6 ...

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galopp-sieger.de
– ''Blandford Stakes.''
horseracingintfed.com
– ''International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Blandford Stakes (2018).''

– ''Blandford Stakes (Group 2).''
pedigreequery.com
– ''Blandford Stakes – Curragh.'' {{Race Meeting, Irish Champions Weekend, Turf, state=expanded Flat races in Ireland Curragh Racecourse Middle distance horse races for fillies and mares

History

Records

Winners since 1980

Earlier winners

See also

References