History
The event was established in 1823, and it was originally open to horses of either gender. For a period it was contested over a mile, and it was shortened to 6 furlongs in 1870. It was extended to 7 furlongs in 1962, and restricted to male horses in 1988.
The Champagne Stakes is held during Doncaster's four-day St. Leger Festival, and it is currently run on the final day, the same day as the St. Leger Stakes.
The leading horses from the race sometimes go on to compete in the following month's Dewhurst Stakes.
Read more about this topic: Champagne Stakes (Great Britain)
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“Its nice to be a part of history but people should get it right. I may not be perfect, but Im bloody close.”
—John Lydon (formerly Johnny Rotten)
“My good friends, this is the second time in our history that there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And now I recommend you to go home and sleep quietly in your beds.”
—Neville Chamberlain (18691940)
“Let us not underrate the value of a fact; it will one day flower in a truth. It is astonishing how few facts of importance are added in a century to the natural history of any animal. The natural history of man himself is still being gradually written.”
—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)