Royal Whip Stakes

Royal Whip Stakes

2016
Success Days	Fascinating Rock	Moonlight Magic

Previous years
2015
Found	Answered	Highly Toxic
2014
Hall Of Mirrors	Kingsbarns	Parish Hall
2013
Maputo	Caponata	Fortify
2012
Famous Name	Born To Sea	Warwick Avenue
2011
Banimpire	Dunboyne Express	Mutahadee
2010
Fame And Glory	Dixie Music	Grand Admiral
2009
Casual Conquest	Curtain Call	Red Rock Canyon
2008
King Of Rome	Alarazi	Zulu Chief
2007
Eagle Mountain	Alexander Tango	Decado
2006
Mustameet	Chelsea Rose	Soar With Eagles
2005
Tropical Lady	Cairdeas	Latino Magic
2004
Solskjaer	Tropical Lady	Medicinal
2003
High Chaparral	Imperial Dancer	In Time's Eye

The Royal Whip Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs (2,012 metres) at the Curragh in August.

History

The event was established in 1821, and it was originally a long-distance race for horses aged four or older. It was named after its trophy, a gold-handled whip presented to the Irish Turf Club by King George IV. It was initially one of a series of races known as the Royal Plates.

The trophy was replaced by a new whip provided by King William IV in 1830.^[1] The event was opened to three-year-olds in 1832. It was limited to Irish-bred horses for a period after the 1860s.

The Royal Whip Stakes was cut to 2½ miles in 1925, and to 2 miles in 1936. Its original prize fund of 100 guineas remained unchanged until 1954. From this point it was contested over 1½ miles.

The race was given Group 3 status in the early 1970s. It was shortened to 1¼ miles in 1995, and promoted to Group 2 level in 1998. It was relegated back to Group 3 in 2013.^[2]

With its 197th edition in 2017, the Royal Whip Stakes is Ireland's oldest continuously run horse race.

Records

Most successful horse (3 wins):

• Roller – 1822, 1824, 1825
• Skylark – 1830, 1831, 1832

Leading jockey since 1950 (7 wins):

• Michael Kinane – Kamakura (1985), Beyond the Lake (1989), Rayseka (1993), King Alex (1997), Make No Mistake (1998), Bach (2001), High Chaparral (2003)

Leading trainer since 1950 (13 wins):

• Vincent O'Brien – Ross Sea (1959), Bally Joy (1965), Reindeer (1970), Tantoul (1971), Manitoulin (1972), Cavo Doro (1973), Alleged (1977, 1978), Last Light (1981), Lords (1982), Empire Glory (1984), Baba Karam (1987), Splash of Colour (1990)

Winners since 1977

^a Blue Judge finished first in 1994, but he was relegated to second place following a stewards' inquiry.
^b The 2008 running took place at Leopardstown.

Earlier winners

See also

• List of Irish flat horse races

References

• Paris-Turf:
  • "1983". , "1984". , "1985". , "1986". , "1987". 
• Racing Post:
  • 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
  • 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
  • 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

• galopp-sieger.de – Royal Whip Stakes.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Royal Whip Stakes (2016).
• irishracinggreats.com – Royal Whip Stakes.
• pedigreequery.com – Royal Whip Stakes – Curragh.
• tbheritage.com – Royal Whip Stakes.