1000 Guineas History

The same "sex discrimination" that makes the Oaks appear the poor relation to the Derby applies even more blatantly to the difference between the two "Guineas" races. The fillies certainly cover Newmarket heath at more than half the speed of the colts!

At the start of the 90's the 1,000 Guineas was a prime target for French and Irish trainers but in recent years English trainers have dominated, the one exception being Godolphin's successful tilt with Cape Verdi in 1997.

1000 Guineas

The fillies' equivalent of the 2,000 Guineas; run over the same course and distance at the early May meeting.

United Kingdom Classic Races

In United Kingdom horse racing, The Classics are a series of horse races run over the flat (i.e. without jumps). Each classic is run once each year and is restricted to horses that are three years old.

The five races are:

  • Two Thousand Guineas Stakes
  • One Thousand Guineas Stakes
  • Oaks Stakes
  • Epsom Derby Stakes
  • St. Leger Stakes
The 2,000 Guineas, the Derby and the St.Leger together form the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.

The 1,000 Guineas is the youngest of the five classics, having been around only since 1814, the year before the battle of Waterloo!