Other meanings of 2000 Guineas Stakes
Horse racing
The 2000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Britain open to three-year-old colts and fillies, run over one mile (1,609 metres) at Newmarket Racecourse in early May. It is the first leg of the English Triple Crown, followed by the Derby and the St Leger.
The 2000 Guineas was first run in 1809, making it one of the oldest horse races in the world. It was conceived by Sir Charles Bunbury and the Jockey Club as a test for three-year-olds over the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket. The race is named after its original prize fund of 2,000 guineas (a guinea being 21 shillings).1
It is the first of the five British Classics, and its winner is often considered the leading miler of his generation. The race has been won by many legendary horses, including Frankel (2011), who is widely regarded as one of the greatest racehorses of all time.2
The race is restricted to three-year-old colts and fillies, with fillies carrying 9 stone 0 pounds and colts 9 stone 2 pounds. The distance is exactly one mile on the Rowley Mile, a straight course. The race is run on the first Saturday in May, traditionally the same day as the Kentucky Derby in the United States.
The fastest winning time was recorded by Mister Baileys in 1994, who stopped the clock at 1:35.08. The most successful jockey is Jem Robinson, who won nine times between 1821 and 1848. The most successful trainer is Aidan O'Brien, with ten wins as of 2024.
The 2000 Guineas is the first leg of the English Triple Crown, which also includes the Derby and the St Leger. Only fifteen horses have won all three, the last being Nijinsky in 1970. The race has also been won by fillies, most notably Sceptre (1902) and Pebbles (1985), who went on to win the Breeders' Cup Turf.
Other notable winners include Bahram (1935), Sir Gordon Richards' only Classic winner as a jockey, and Brigadier Gerard (1971), who was unbeaten in 17 races. In recent years, the race has been a key trial for the Derby, with winners like Camelot (2012) and Galileo (2001) going on to triumph at Epsom.
The race was not run during the two World Wars, and in 1915 it was held at Newbury. The 2000 Guineas has also been run at Ascot in 1940 and 1941. The race's trophy is a silver gilt cup, and the winner is traditionally presented with a gold-mounted whip.
A little-known fact is that the 2000 Guineas was originally run over the Ditch Mile, not the Rowley Mile, and the distance was changed in 1813. The race has also been won by a horse owned by a reigning monarch: King Edward VII's Minoru won in 1909. In 2020, the race was run behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the winner, Kameko, was trained by Andrew Balding, who had never won a Classic before.
The 2000 Guineas is a major event in the British betting calendar, with significant ante-post wagering months in advance. The race is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series, which showcases the best of British flat racing.
The race has inspired similar events worldwide, including the 2000 Guineas in Australia and the Poule d'Essai des Poulains in France. It is also a key social event, with the Newmarket meeting attracting large crowds and significant media coverage. The race's name has entered the lexicon, with the term "Guineas" used colloquially to refer to the race itself.3
The 2000 Guineas is one of the world's most prestigious horse races, with a rich history dating back over two centuries.
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