What is the Norfolk Stakes?
The Norfolk Stakes is a Group 2 Thoroughbred race held annually at Royal Ascot in Berkshire, England. Contested at 5 furlongs on the straight turf course exclusively for 2-year-olds, it is the most prestigious juvenile sprint race in the world and the opening event on day three of the Royal Ascot meeting. First run in 1843 as the New Stakes, the race was renamed in 1973 in honor of the 16th Duke of Norfolk, who served as Queen Elizabeth II's representative at Ascot from 1945 to 1972. The Norfolk Stakes was promoted to Group 2 status in 2006 and has been a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint since 2018, offering winning connections an automatic starting position in the race at Keeneland. The race has a tradition of producing future Group 1 stars — No Nay Never (2013), a leading sire, was among its most celebrated recent winners — as well as upsets at long odds, with Valiant Force winning at 150-1 in 2023 and The Ridler at 50-1 in 2022. American trainer Wesley Ward has won the Norfolk three times with US-based juveniles, a testament to the race's truly international appeal.
When is the Norfolk Stakes in 2026?
The 2026 Norfolk Stakes is scheduled for Thursday, June 18 at Royal Ascot as the opening race on day three of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting. Contested at 5 furlongs on the straight turf course with a purse of £150,000, the race draws the world's fastest 2-year-old sprinters and is broadcast on Peacock in the United States.
Norfolk Stakes History & Notable Winners
The Norfolk Stakes is renowned for producing some of the most surprising results at Royal Ascot, with market leaders rarely prevailing. Charles Darwin gave trainer Aidan O'Brien and jockey Ryan Moore a dominant 2025 victory, the Coolmore-owned colt winning by 2¼ lengths to confirm himself as the season's top juvenile sprinting prospect. Wathnan Racing's Shareholder gave trainer Karl Burke and jockey James Doyle a 2024 win at 12-1, the colt going on to a highly regarded 2-year-old campaign. Valiant Force caused one of the biggest shocks in Royal Ascot history in 2023 at 150-1 under Rossa Ryan for Adrian Murray — one of only three winners in the race's history to go off at triple-digit odds. The Ridler handed trainer Richard Fahey a 50-1 shock in 2022 under Paul Hanagan. Fahey doubled up the following year when Perfect Power — who went on to win the July Cup and Prix de l'Abbaye — won the 2021 edition at 14-1 under Paul Hanagan, marking the beginning of one of the most remarkable juvenile sprint careers in recent European racing history.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Charles Darwin | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien |
| 2024 | Shareholder | James Doyle | Karl Burke |
| 2023 | Valiant Force | Rossa Ryan | Adrian Murray |
| 2022 | The Ridler | Paul Hanagan | Richard Fahey |
| 2021 | Perfect Power | Paul Hanagan | Richard Fahey |
The Norfolk Stakes is the world's premier juvenile sprint and a gateway to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, making it one of the most important 2-year-old races run anywhere in the world each June.
