Fred Darling Stakes

Flat horse race in Britain

Horse race

The Fred Darling Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres) at Newbury in April.

History

The event was established in 1949, and it was initially called the Lambourn Stakes.^[1] It was named after Lambourn, a nearby village associated with racehorse training.

For a period the race was contested over 7 furlongs and 60 yards. It continued with its original name until 1954,^[2] and was given its present title in 1955.^[3] It was renamed in memory of Fred Darling, a successful local trainer who died two years earlier.^[4]

The Dubai Duty Free company started to sponsor the Fred Darling Stakes in 1996. From this point the race was also known as the Dubai Duty Free Stakes. It used to be run on a left-handed course, but it was switched to a straight 7 furlongs in 1999.

The race can serve as a trial for various fillies' Classics in Europe. The last participant to win the 1,000 Guineas was Elmalka, the third-placed horse in 2024.

Records

Leading jockey (4 wins):

• Lester Piggott – Sijui (1957), Royal Saint (1967), Durtal (1977), Millingdale Lillie (1980)
• Jimmy Lindley – Soldier's Song (1960), Anassa (1962), Night Appeal (1965), Highest Hopes (1970)
• Walter Swinburn – Marwell (1981), Top Socialite (1985), Maysoon (1986), Sueboog (1993)
• Willie Carson – Salsabil (1990), Shadayid (1991), Bulaxie (1994), Aqaarid (1995)

Leading trainer (6 wins):

• Noel Murless – Serocco (1950), Refreshed (1952), Sijui (1957), Royal Saint (1967), Sea Lavender (1969), Mysterious (1973)
• John Dunlop – Salsabil (1990), Shadayid (1991), Bulaxie (1994), Aqaarid (1995), Iftiraas (2000), Muthabara (2008)

Winners

1. The 2016 running took place at Chelmsford City
2. The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom^[5]

See also

• Horse racing in Great Britain
• List of British flat horse races
• Recurring sporting events established in 1949 – this race is included under its original title, Lambourn Stakes.

References

1. "1949 Lambourn Stakes". Glasgow Herald. 2 April 1949. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
2. "1954 Lambourn Stakes". Glasgow Herald. 10 April 1954. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
3. "1955 Fred Darling Stakes". Glasgow Herald. 2 April 1955. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
4. "Death of Fred Darling". Glasgow Herald. 10 June 1953. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
5. "Coronavirus: Horse racing in Great Britain suspended until end of April". BBC Sport. 17 March 2020.

• Paris-Turf:
  • "1983"., "1984"., "1985"., "1986"., "1987".
• Racing Post:
  • 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
  • 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
  • 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
  • 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

• galopp-sieger.de – Fred Darling Stakes (ex Lambourn Stakes).
• ifhaonline.org – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Fred Darling Stakes (2019).
• pedigreequery.com – Fred Darling Stakes – Newbury.
• Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books. pp. 12–13. ISBN 1-873626-15-0.