What is the Prince of Wales's Stakes?
The Prince of Wales's Stakes is a Group 1 Thoroughbred race held annually at Royal Ascot in Berkshire, England. Contested at 1¼ miles on the turf for horses aged four and older, it is the feature race on the second day of the Royal Ascot meeting and one of the most prestigious middle-distance races in the world. First run in 1862, the race is named in honor of the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII. Promoted to Group 1 status in 2000, the Prince of Wales's Stakes is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "Win, and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland, offering the winner an automatic, fees-paid starting position in one of the richest turf races in North America. The race has a distinguished roll of honor, including Dubai Millennium (2000), Fantastic Light (2001), Grandera (2002), Ouija Board (2006), the brilliant Frankel (who would have been the favorite had he run), Highland Reel (2017), and a succession of outstanding performers in the modern era. With a purse approaching £1.1 million, the Prince of Wales's Stakes consistently attracts the world's best older middle-distance performers.
When is the Prince of Wales's Stakes in 2026?
The 2026 Prince of Wales's Stakes is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, at Royal Ascot as the feature event on day two of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting. Contested at 1¼ miles on the turf with a purse of £1,057,500, the race draws the world's top older middle-distance horses and is broadcast live on NBC and Peacock in the United States.
Prince of Wales's Stakes History & Notable Winners
The Prince of Wales's Stakes has produced a succession of brilliant middle-distance champions in recent years. Godolphin's Ombudsman gave trainer John Gosden and jockey William Buick a sensational 2025 win, the four-year-old producing a blistering turn of foot to power two lengths clear of Anmaat for his first Group 1 victory. Auguste Rodin gave trainer Aidan O'Brien his 400th Group 1 flat winner in 2024 under Ryan Moore, the Irish Derby and Breeders' Cup Turf winner returning to his brilliant best. Cartier Champion Older Horse Mostahdaf drew right away from a high-class field in 2023 under Jim Crowley for John and Thady Gosden, delivering one of the most impressive winning displays in the race's modern history. Cox Plate winner State Of Rest gave trainer Joseph O'Brien a 2022 triumph under Shane Crosse. The 2021 edition was won wire-to-wire by Love under Ryan Moore for Aidan O'Brien — the previous year's 1000 Guineas and dual Oaks winner returning to form in brilliant fashion.
The Prince of Wales's Stakes is the premier middle-distance event of Royal Ascot and the key European stepping stone to the Breeders' Cup Turf each November.
