The Buckingham Palace Stakes

The Buckingham Palace Stakes is a heritage handicap run during the course of the Royal Ascot meeting.

The Buckingham Palace Stakes was one of the races introduced to the Royal Ascot meeting as it was expanded to a five-day event to mark the 2002 Golden Jubilee celebrations. Like the other races added during the Golden Jubilee, the new race was named after a Royal residence.

The Buckingham Palace Stakes is run over seven furlongs and is open to three-year-old and above thoroughbreds. The field for the race is usually packed to capacity, leading some to name it the Buckingham Palace Stampede.

Buckingham Palace Stakes Winners

In five years of competition the Buckingham Palace Stakes has witnessed some exciting races, such as the 2007 Ladies Day finale when the Ascot crowd was treated to the sight of rank 33-1 outsider Binati pushing past race favourite Wise Dennis to claim a famous victory.

A different jockey has claimed each of the five Buckingham Stakes winners' titles. 2007 winner Francis Norton merits special mention for belting home on outside Binati at the end of a tough day of racing.

None of the top English trainers participating in the Royal Ascot has managed to impose any sort of dominance on the Buckingham Palace Stakes. John Dunlop sneaks ahead of the pack by virtue of the 2004 second-placed finish of Maghanim that preceded his 2005 win with Jedburgh.

Buckingham Palace Stakes Betting

The challenge of backing favourites in the Buckingham Palace Stakes is well illustrated by the 2006 result, which saw three horses with odds over 25-1 nabbing the top three positions. Rather than using the betting markets to pick your Buckingham Palace Stakes winner, consider a careful reading of the form books and pay close attention to the race-day draw.

Once you've picked your favourites, keep in mind that carefully considered place betting is the safest way to make day three's final race pay dividends.