The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a
Group 1flathorse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old
fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at
Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April or early May on the Sunday following the
2000 Guineas Stakes.
It is the second of Britain's five
Classic races, and the first of two restricted to fillies. It can also serve as the opening leg of the
Fillies' Triple Crown, followed by the
Oaks and the
St Leger, but the feat of winning all three is rarely attempted.
History
The 1000 Guineas was first run on 28 April 1814, five years after the inaugural running of the equivalent race for both
colts and fillies, the 2000 Guineas. The two races were established by the
Jockey Club under the direction of
Sir Charles Bunbury, who had earlier co-founded the
Derby. They were named according to their original prize funds (a
guinea amounted to 21
shillings, or £1.05).
By the mid-1860s, the 1000 Guineas had become one of Britain's most prestigious races for three-year-olds. The five leading events for this age group, characterised by increasing distances as the season progressed, were now referred to as "
Classics". The concept was later adopted in many other countries.
The 1000 Guineas is served by trial races such as the
Nell Gwyn Stakes and the
Fred Darling Stakes, but for some horses it is the first race of the season. The 1000 Guineas itself can act as a
trial for the Oaks, and the last horse to win both was
Love in 2020.