What is the Queen Anne Stakes?
The Queen Anne Stakes is a Group 1 Thoroughbred race held annually at Royal Ascot in Berkshire, England. Contested at 1 mile on the straight turf course for horses aged four and older, it is the traditional curtain-raiser on the opening day of Royal Ascot and one of the most prestigious mile races in the world. The race was established in 1840 as the Trial Stakes and renamed in 1930 to honor Queen Anne, the British monarch who founded Ascot Racecourse in 1711. Upgraded to Group 1 status in 2003, the Queen Anne Stakes is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "Win and You're In" qualifier, with the winner receiving an automatic, fees-paid starting position in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland in November. Frankie Dettori and Saeed bin Suroor each hold the record for most wins with seven. The race is sponsored by QIPCO and is part of the British Champions Series. Notable recent winners include the unbeaten Baaeed in 2022, one of the highest-rated horses in European racing history, and Palace Pier in 2021, who won by 1¾ lengths in one of the most dominant displays in the race's modern history.
When is the Queen Anne Stakes in 2026?
The 2026 Queen Anne Stakes is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16 at Royal Ascot as the first race on opening day of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting. Contested at 1 mile on the straight turf course with a purse of £800,000, the race draws the world's top milers and is broadcast live on NBC and Peacock in the United States.
Queen Anne Stakes History & Notable Winners
The Queen Anne Stakes has produced some of the most celebrated miling performances of the modern era. Docklands gave trainer Harry Eustace and Australian jockey Mark Zahra a dramatic 2025 victory, holding off 5-2 favorite Rosallion by a nose in a thrilling photo finish at 14-1. Charyn gave trainer Roger Varian a dominant 2024 win under Silvestre De Sousa at 100-30, making up for his Lockinge defeat earlier in the season. Triple Time produced a stunning 33-1 upset in 2023 under Neil Callan for trainer Kevin Ryan, defeating a field that included the highly touted Modern Games. The unbeaten Baaeed was the short-priced 1-6 favorite in 2022, and delivered to perfection under Jim Crowley for William Haggas, cementing his status as the best miler in Europe. Palace Pier gave trainer John Gosden and Frankie Dettori a sixth Queen Anne win in 2021, winning by 1¾ lengths to earn his place among the great winners of this storied race.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Docklands | Mark Zahra | Harry Eustace |
| 2024 | Charyn | Silvestre De Sousa | Roger Varian |
| 2023 | Triple Time | Neil Callan | Kevin Ryan |
| 2022 | Baaeed | Jim Crowley | William Haggas |
| 2021 | Palace Pier | Frankie Dettori | John & Thady Gosden |
The Queen Anne Stakes is one of the world's premier mile races, the traditional opener of the Royal Ascot meeting, and a key stepping stone to the Breeders' Cup Mile each November.
