Puneet Varma (Editor)

Geoffrey Freer Stakes

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Inaugurated
  
1949

Sponsor
  
Betfred

Distance
  
1m 5f 61y (2,671 m)

Race type
  
Flat

Website
  
Newbury

Location
  
Newbury Racecourse Newbury, England

The Geoffrey Freer Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 1 mile, 5 furlongs and 61 yards (2,671 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.

Contents

History

The event was established in 1949, and it was originally called the Oxfordshire Stakes. It was founded by Geoffrey Freer, a Jockey Club handicapper who served as the manager of Newbury Racecourse. The venue had been used as an American military supply depot during World War II, and Freer restored the course in the post-war period. The race was renamed in his honour in 1969, the year after his death.

For a period the Geoffrey Freer Stakes was classed at Group 2 level. It was relegated to its current status, Group 3, in 2006.

The leading three-year-olds from the race sometimes go on to compete in the following month's St. Leger Stakes.

Records

Most successful horse (3 wins):

  • Mubtaker – 2002, 2003, 2004

    • Leading jockey (4 wins):

  • Lester Piggott – Court Command (1956), Valinsky (1977), Ardross (1981, 1982)
  • Pat Eddery – Realistic (1974), Consol (1975), Moon Madness (1987), Silver Patriarch (1999)
  • Frankie Dettori – Charmer (1990), Drum Taps (1991), Phantom Gold (1996), Kite Wood (2009)

    • Leading trainer (5 wins):

  • Noel Murless – Ridge Wood (1949), Court Command (1956), Hopeful Venture (1967), Rangong (1969), Attica Meli (1973)

    • References

    Geoffrey Freer Stakes Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA