The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes were introduced into the British racing calendar in 1955, partly to honour the monarch and partly to replace a previous event called the Knights Royal Stakes, which had been run since 1947.
The race is currently part of the annual Camra Beer Festival, which is in its fourth season in 2010, and proudly advertises the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes as its feature race on the second day of the festival. The seven race card for the meeting also includes the Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile, a Group 1 race, and the Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes. Considering Ascot's penchant for recording horse racing history it is no surprise that the day of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes has experienced its share of spectacular racing moments. Most recently, in 1996, legendary jockey Frankie Dettori won all seven races on the QEII day at Ascot in an unprecedented winning streak that won't be forgotten in a hurry.
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes are run over a distance of one mile and traditionally takes place in late September. There have been a few changes to the race over the years. In 1971, when the Horse Racing Authority developed the system of ratings and classifications, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes were classed as a race of Group 2 level; a decision to be revised in 1987 when the race was promoted to Group 1 status. It was also one of the last races to accept or receive corporate sponsorship. After a brief period of being backed by NetJets and later Barclays, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes are now sponsored by Sony. Since 2008 the race is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge, granting the winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes an automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Mile in the same year.
Because of the extraordinary contenders starting in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the race is hailed as Europe's Top Mile; meaning the winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes will be crowned the Top Miler in Europe. This huge honour at stake seems to have given wings not only to the ambitions of up-and-coming trainers and jockeys but also to the horses fighting it out on the track. The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes record some of the fastest times for one mile races every season. The event still attracts entries belonging to foreign royalty, with the latest success being the win of Raven's Pass owned by Princess Haya of Jordan in 2008.
Recent Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Winners
Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
| 2009 | Rip Van Winkle | Johnny Murtagh | Aidan O'Brien | 1:38.82 |
| 2008 | Ravens's Pass | Jimmy Fortune | John Gosden | 1:38.94 |
| 2007 | Ramonti | Frankie Dettori | Saeed Bin Suroor | 1:42.45 |
| 2006 | George Washington | Michael Kinane | Aidan O'Brien | 1:40.06 |
| 2005 | Starcraft | Christophe Lemaire | Luca Cumani | 1:37.87 |
| 2004 | Rakti | Philip Robinson | Michael Jarvis | 1:39.82 |
| 2003 | Falbrav | Darryll Holland | Luca Cumani | 1:38.99 |
| 2002 | Where Or When | Kevin Darley | Terry Mills | 1:41.37 |
| 2001 | Summoner | Richard Hills | Saeed Bin Suroor | 1:44.54 |
| 2000 | Observatory | Kevin Darley | John Gosden | 1:41.40 |
| 1999 | Dubai Millenium | Frankie Dettori | Saeed Bin Suroor | 1:46.24 |