The Challenge Stakes is a
Group 2 The term Group 2 may refer to:
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* 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 ...
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 in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run on the Rowley Mile at
Newmarket over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.
History
The event was established in 1878, and the inaugural edition was titled the First Great Challenge Stakes. It was originally contested over six furlongs and open to horses aged two or older.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and for a period the Challenge Stakes held Group 3 status. It was extended to seven furlongs in 1977, and closed to two-year-olds in 1985. It was promoted to Group 2 level in 1987.
The race was formerly staged during Newmarket's Champions' Day meeting in mid-October. It became part of a new fixture called Future Champions Day in 2011.
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
* Energy – ''1882, 1884''
* Mephisto – ''1886, 1890''
* Kilcock – ''1896, 1897''
* Sonatura – ''1900, 1901''
* Chacornac – ''1902, 1903''
* Succour – ''1907, 1908''
* Hornet's Beauty – ''1912, 1914''
*
Phalaris
Phalaris ( el, Φάλαρις) was the tyrant of Akragas (now Agrigento) in Sicily, from approximately 570 to 554 BC.
History
Phalaris was renowned for his excessive cruelty. Among his alleged atrocities is cannibalism: he was said to have e ...
– ''1917, 1918''
*
Boldboy
Boldboy (1970 – September 1998) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He raced for eight seasons in the 1970s and was one of the most popular and successful racehorses of his era. As a two-year-old he showed ability, ...
– ''1973, 1977''
*
Moorestyle
Moorestyle (1977–1984) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was unfashionably bred, sold cheaply as a yearling and began his career in minor races. As a three-year-old however, he improved to become the one of the outstanding ...
– ''1980, 1981''
*
Limato - ''2017, 2018''
Leading
jockey (7 wins):
*
Lester Piggott
Lester Keith Piggott (5 November 1935 – 29 May 2022) was an English professional jockey and trainer. With 4,493 career flat racing wins in Britain, including a record nine Epsom Derby victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest ...
– ''Princely Gift (1954), Forlorn River (1967), Mountain Call (1968), Abergwaun (1972), Moorestyle (1980, 1981), Salieri (1983)''
Leading
trainer (6 wins):
*
Barry Hills
Barry Hills (born 2 April 1937) is a retired British thoroughbred horse trainer. He lives in Lambourn, England.
Biography
Barry Hills had three sons in his first marriage, to Maureen Newson: John, Michael, and Richard. John (died 2014) was a ...
– ''Asteroid Field (1987), Distant Relative (1989), Last Resort (2000), Munir (2001), Miss Lucifer (2007), Red Jazz (2010)''
Winners since 1977
Earlier winners
* 1878: Lollypop
* 1879:
Rayon d'Or
* 1880: Thebais
* 1881: Nellie
* 1882: Energy
* 1883:
Busybody
A busybody, do-gooder, meddler, or marplot is someone who meddles in the affairs of others.
An early study of the type was made by the ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus in his typology, ''Characters'', "In the proffered services of the bus ...
* 1884: Energy
* 1885: Modwena
* 1886: Mephisto
* 1887:
Kilwarlin
* 1888: Sandal
* 1889: Heaume
* 1890: Mephisto
* 1891: Sir Frederick Roberts
* 1892: St Angelo
* 1893: Dame President
* 1894: Whittier
* 1895: Amandier / Chasseur
* 1896: Kilcock
* 1897: Kilcock
* 1898: Heir Male
* 1899: Fosco
* 1900: Sonatura
* 1901: Sonatura
* 1902: Chacornac
* 1903: Chacornac
* 1904: Delaunay
* 1905:
Thrush
* 1906: Rocketter
* 1907: Succour
* 1908: Succour
* 1909:
Sir Martin
* 1910: Jack Snipe
* 1911: Iron Mask
* 1912: Hornet's Beauty
* 1913: Borrow
* 1914: Hornet's Beauty
* 1915: Golden Sun
* 1916: King's Joker
* 1917:
Phalaris
Phalaris ( el, Φάλαρις) was the tyrant of Akragas (now Agrigento) in Sicily, from approximately 570 to 554 BC.
History
Phalaris was renowned for his excessive cruelty. Among his alleged atrocities is cannibalism: he was said to have e ...
* 1918:
Phalaris
Phalaris ( el, Φάλαρις) was the tyrant of Akragas (now Agrigento) in Sicily, from approximately 570 to 554 BC.
History
Phalaris was renowned for his excessive cruelty. Among his alleged atrocities is cannibalism: he was said to have e ...
* 1919:
Diadem
A diadem is a type of crown, specifically an ornamental headband worn by monarchs and others as a badge of royalty.
Overview
The word derives from the Greek διάδημα ''diádēma'', "band" or "fillet", from διαδέω ''diadéō'', " ...
* 1920: Poltava
* 1921: Sunblaze
* 1922: Two Step
* 1923: Black Gown
* 1924: Drake
* 1925: Twelve Pointer
* 1926: Diomedes
* 1927: Highborn II
* 1928: Nice Prospect
* 1929: Reedsmouth
* 1930: Soloptic
* 1931: Portlaw
* 1932: The Divot
* 1933:
Myrobella
Myrobella (foaled 1930) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Bred by the British National Stud she was the outstanding two-year-old of either sex in Britain in 1932 when she won five consecutive races. In th ...
* 1934:
Mate
* 1935: Bellacose
* 1936: Solerina
* 1937: Ipsden
* 1938: Old Reliance
* 1939–44: ''no race''
* 1945:
Royal Charger
* 1946: Daily Double
* 1947: Closeburn
* 1948: The Cobbler
* 1949: Combined Operations
* 1950: Bob Cherry
* 1951: Hard Sauce
* 1952: Agitator
* 1953: Parakeet
* 1954:
Princely Gift
* 1955: Royal Palm
* 1956: Coronation Year
* 1957: Welsh Abbot
* 1958: Logarithm
* 1959–66: ''no race''
* 1967: Forlorn River
* 1968: Mountain Call
* 1969: Burglar
* 1970: Realm
* 1971: Joshua
* 1972: Abergwaun
* 1973:
Boldboy
Boldboy (1970 – September 1998) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He raced for eight seasons in the 1970s and was one of the most popular and successful racehorses of his era. As a two-year-old he showed ability, ...
* 1974: New Model
* 1975: Be Tuneful
* 1976: Star Bird
See also
*
Horse racing in Great Britain
Horse racing is the second largest spectator sport in Great Britain, and one of the longest established, with a history dating back many centuries. According to a report by the British Horseracing Authority it generates £3.39 billion total d ...
*
List of British flat horse races
A list of notable flat horse races which take place annually in Great Britain, under the authority of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), including all conditions races which currently hold Group 1 Group 1 may refer to:
* Alkali metal, a chem ...
References
* Paris-Turf:
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Racing Post:
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----
galopp-sieger.de– ''Challenge Stakes.''
ifhaonline.org– ''International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Challenge Stakes (2019).''
pedigreequery.com– ''Challenge Stakes – Newmarket.''
*
{{Race Meeting, Future Champions Festival, Turf
Flat races in Great Britain
Newmarket Racecourse
Open mile category horse races
Recurring sporting events established in 1878
1878 establishments in England