King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series > King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Race Facts

  • Location: Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, England
  • Inaugural Race: 1951
  • Distance: 1 and 1/2 miles (12 furlongs)
  • Track Type: Right-handed, Turf
  • Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds and up
  • 2022 Purse: £1,250,000
  • 2022 Race Date: Saturday, July 23rd

2022 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Race Results

POSTHORSEJOCKEY / TRAINERWIN / PLACE
3PyledriverP J McDonald / William Muir & Chris Grassick£20.80 / £6.75
4Torquator TassoRene Piechulek / Marcel Weiss£5.15
2MishriffJames Doyle / John & Thady Gosden
1BroomeRyan Moore / A P O'Brien
5WestoverColin Keane / Ralph Beckett
6Emily UpjohnFrankie Dettori / John & Thady Gosden

Exotic Payoffs:

  • Exacta (3-4) Paid: £120.50
  • Trifecta (3-4-2) Paid: £426.00

Watch the 2022 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Race History

Recognized as England’s most prestigious open-age flat race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes has run annually at the Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, England since 1951. The race is regarded as Britian’s most distinguished flat race and its winners are a proverbial “who’s who” of elite European horses.

The race was initially conceived as a combination of two separate races held at Ascot, named in honor of King George and Queen Elizabeth respectively, in order to establish an important international race for three-year-olds. The 1975 running, described by some as the “race of the century”, featured a thrilling head-to-head battle down the stretch between Grundy and Bustino. Grundy, the 1975 Epsom Derby winner and 4-5 favorite, was four lengths behind 4-1 chance Bustino at the head of the straight when Grundy began to rally. As soon as Grundy won the edge at the furlong pole, Bustino gave one final push that had both horses deadlocked until the final 100 yards when Grundy pulled away and eventually secured a half-length win.

Frankie Dettori and Lester Piggott are both tied for the record for most wins by a jockey with 7 each. Dettori’s most recent three wins (2017, 2019, and 2020) came at the helm of Enable, the races winningest horse. Sir Michael Stoute currently holds the record for most wins by a trainer with six.

As of 2011 the race has been included in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series, offering the winner an automatic bid into the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Past Winners

YearWinnerJockey / TrainerDistance / Time
2022PyledriverP J McDonald / William Muir & Chris Grassick1 1⁄2 M / 2:29.49
2021AdayarWilliam Buick / Charlie Appleby1 1⁄2 M / 2:26.54
2020EnableFrankie Dettori / John Gosden1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.92
2019EnableFrankie Dettori / John Gosden1 1⁄2 M / 2:32.42
2018Poet's WordJames Doyle / Michael Stoute1 1⁄2 M / 2:25.84
2017EnableFrankie Dettori / John Gosden1 1⁄2 M / 2:36.22
2016Highland ReelRyan Moore / Aidan O'Brien1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.97
2015PostponedAndrea Atzeni / Luca Cumani1 1⁄2 M / 2:31.25
2014TaghroodaPaul Hanagan / John Gosden1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.13
2013NovellistJohnny Murtagh / Andreas Wohler1 1⁄2 M / 2:24.60
2012DanedreamAndrasch Starke / Peter Schiergen1 1⁄2 M / 2:31.62
2011NathanielWilliam Buick / John Gosden1 1⁄2 M / 2:35.07
2010HarbingerOlivier Peslier / Michael Stoute1 1⁄2 M / 2:26.78
2009ConduitRyan Moore / Michael Stoute1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.73
2008Duke of MarmaladeJohnny Murtagh / Aidan O'Brien1 1⁄2 M / 2:27.91
2007Dylan ThomasJohnny Murtagh / Aidan O'Brien1 1⁄2 M / 2:31.11
2006Hurricane RunChristophe Soumillon / André Fabre1 1⁄2 M / 2:30.29
2005AzamourMichael Kinane / John Oxx1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.26
2004DoyenFrankie Dettori / Saeed bin Suroor1 1⁄2 M / 2:33.18
2003AlamsharJohnny Murtagh / John Oxx1 1⁄2 M / 2:33.26
2002GolanKieren Fallon / Michael Stoute1 1⁄2 M / 2:29.70
2001GalileoMichael Kinane / Aidan O'Brien1 1⁄2 M / 2:27.71
2000MontjeuMichael Kinane / John Hammond1 1⁄2 M / 2:29.98
1999DaylamiFrankie Dettori / Saeed bin Suroor1 1⁄2 M / 2:29.35
1998SwainFrankie Dettori / Saeed bin Suroor1 1⁄2 M / 2:29.06
1997SwainJohn Reid / Saeed bin Suroor1 1⁄2 M / 2:36.45
1996PentireMichael Hills / Geoff Wragg1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.11
1995LammtarraFrankie Dettori / Saeed bin Suroor1 1⁄2 M / 2:31.01
1994King's TheatreMichael Kinane / Henry Cecil1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.92
1993Opera HouseMichael Roberts / Michael Stoute1 1⁄2 M / 2:33.94
1992St JoviteStephen Craine / Jim Bolger1 1⁄2 M / 2:30.85
1991GenerousAlan Munro / Paul Cole1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.99
1990BelmezMichael Kinane / Henry Cecil1 1⁄2 M / 2:30.76
1989NashwanWillie Carson / Dick Hern1 1⁄2 M / 2:32.27
1988MtotoMichael Roberts / Alec Stewart1 1⁄2 M / 2:37.33
1987Reference PointSteve Cauthen / Henry Cecil1 1⁄2 M / 2:34.63
1986Dancing BravePat Eddery / Guy Harwood1 1⁄2 M / 2:29.49
1985PetoskiWillie Carson / Dick Hern1 1⁄2 M / 2:27.61
1984TeenosoLester Piggott / Geoff Wragg1 1⁄2 M / 2:27.95
1983Time CharterJoe Mercer / Henry Candy1 1⁄2 M / 2:30.79
1982KalaglowGreville Starkey / Guy Harwood1 1⁄2 M / 2:31.88
1981ShergarWalter Swinburn / Michael Stoute1 1⁄2 M / 2:35.40
1980Ela-Mana-MouWillie Carson / Dick Hern1 1⁄2 M / 2:35.39
1979TroyWillie Carson / Dick Hern1 1⁄2 M / 2:33.75
1978Ile de BourbonJohn Reid / Fulke Johnson Houghton1 1⁄2 M / 2:30.53
1977The MinstrelLester Piggott / Vincent O'Brien1 1⁄2 M / 2:30.48
1976PawneeseYves Saint-Martin / Angel Penna Sr.1 1⁄2 M / 2:29.36
1975GrundyPat Eddery / Peter Walwyn1 1⁄2 M / 2:26.98
1974DahliaLester Piggott / Maurice Zilber1 1⁄2 M / 2:33.03
1973DahliaBill Pyers / Maurice Zilber1 1⁄2 M / 2:30.43
1972Brigadier GerardJoe Mercer / Dick Hern1 1⁄2 M / 2:32.91
1971Mill ReefGeoff Lewis / Ian Balding1 1⁄2 M / 2:32.56
1970NijinskyLester Piggott / Vincent O'Brien1 1⁄2 M / 2:36.16
1969Park TopLester Piggott / Bernard van Cutsem1 1⁄2 M / 2:32.46
1968Royal PalaceSandy Barclay / Noel Murless1 1⁄2 M / 2:33.22
1967BustedGeorge Moore / Noel Murless1 1⁄2 M / 2:33.64
1966Aunt EdithLester Piggott / Noel Murless1 1⁄2 M / 2:35.06
1965Meadow CourtLester Piggott / Paddy Prendergast1 1⁄2 M / 2:33.27
1964NasramBill Pyers / Ernie Fellows1 1⁄2 M / 2:33.15
1963RagusaGarnie Bougoure / Paddy Prendergast1 1⁄2 M / 2:33.80
1962MatchYves Saint-Martin / François Mathet1 1⁄2 M / 2:32.02
1961Right RoyalRoger Poincelet / Etienne Pollet1 1⁄2 M / 2:40.34
1960AggressorJimmy Lindley / Towser Gosden1 1⁄2 M / 2:35.21
1959AlcideHarry Carr / Cecil Boyd-Rochfort1 1⁄2 M / 2:31.39
1958BallymossScobie Breasley / Vincent O'Brien1 1⁄2 M / 2:36.33
1957MontavalFreddie Palmer / Georges Bridgland1 1⁄2 M / 2:41.02
1956RibotEnrico Camici / Ugo Penco1 1⁄2 M / 2:40.24
1955VimyRoger Poincelet / Alec Head1 1⁄2 M / 2:33.76
1954AureoleEph Smith / Cecil Boyd-Rochfort1 1⁄2 M / 2:44.00
1953PinzaSir Gordon Richards / Norman Bertie1 1⁄2 M / 2:34.00
1952TulyarCharlie Smirke / Marcus Marsh1 1⁄2 M / 2:33.00
1951Supreme CourtCharlie Elliott / Evan Williams1 1⁄2 M / 2:29.40