# Royal Whip Stakes

The Royal Whip Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs (2,012 metres) at the Curragh in August.

## History

The event was established in 1821, and it was originally a long-distance race for horses aged four or older. It was named after its trophy, a gold-handled whip presented to the Irish Turf Club by King George IV. It was initially one of a series of races known as the Royal Plates.
The trophy was replaced by a new whip provided by King William IV in 1830. The event was opened to three-year-olds in 1832. It was limited to Irish-bred horses for a period after the 1860s.
The Royal Whip Stakes was cut to 2+1⁄2 miles in 1925, and to 2 miles in 1936. Its original prize fund of 100 guineas remained unchanged until 1954. From this point it was contested over 1+1⁄2 miles.
The race was given Group 3 status in the early 1970s. It was shortened to 1+1⁄4 miles in 1995, and promoted to Group 2 level in 1998. It was relegated back to Group 3 in 2013.
With its 205th edition in 2025, the Royal Whip Stakes is Ireland's oldest continuously run horse race.

## Records

Most successful horse (3 wins):
* Roller – 1822, 1824, 1825
* Skylark – 1830, 1831, 1832
Leading jockey since 1950 (7 wins):
* Michael Kinane – Kamakura (1985), Beyond the Lake (1989), Rayseka (1993), King Alex (1997), Make No Mistake (1998), Bach (2001), High Chaparral (2003)
Leading trainer since 1950 (13 wins):
* Vincent O'Brien – Ross Sea (1959), Bally Joy (1965), Reindeer (1970), Tantoul (1971), Manitoulin (1972), Cavo Doro (1973), Alleged (1977, 1978), Last Light (1981), Lords (1982), Empire Glory (1984), Baba Karam (1987), Splash of Colour (1990)

## Winners since 1977

* ↑ Blue Judge finished first in 1994, but he was relegated to second place following a stewards' inquiry
* ↑ The 2008 running took place at Leopardstown

## Earlier winners

* 1821: Langar
* 1822: Roller
* 1823: Langar
* 1824: Roller
* 1825: Roller
* 1826: Miss Foote
* 1827: Balderdash
* 1828: Paddy Whack
* 1829: Napoleon
* 1830: Skylark
* 1831: Skylark
* 1832: Skylark
* 1833: Napoleon
* 1834: Thump
* 1835: Rust
* 1836: Exchange
* 1837: Harkaway
* 1838: Cregane
* 1839: Retriever
* 1840: St Lawrence
* 1841: Great Wonder
* 1842: Bangor
* 1843: Fairy Queen
* 1844: King Dan
* 1845: The Switcher
* 1846: Burgundy
* 1847: Rat Trap
* 1848: Dough
* 1849: The Baroness
* 1850: Marchioness d'Eu
* 1851: Kick Up the Dust
* 1852: Chaseaway
* 1853: Chaseaway
* 1854: Doctor O'Toole
* 1855: The Chicken
* 1856: The Chicken
* 1857: The Tattler
* 1858: Agitation
* 1859: Hibernia
* 1860: Shamrock
* 1861: The Lawyer
* 1862: Castle Hackett
* 1863: Tourist
* 1864: Woodman
* 1865: Lord Conyngham
* 1866: Dunsany
* 1867: Columbus
* 1868: Aneroid
* 1869: The Scout
* 1870: Finesse
* 1871: Trieste
* 1872: Speculation
* 1873: Bedouin
* 1874: Christmas
* 1875: Ingomar
* 1876: Fair Alice
* 1877: Piersfield
* 1878: Matilda
* 1879: Sisyphus
* 1880: Miriam
* 1881: Miriam
* 1882: Buckshot
* 1883: Peace
* 1884: Xema
* 1885: Sylvan Queen
* 1886: Sylvan Queen
* 1887: Campanula
* 1888: Little John
* 1889: Little John
* 1890: Golden Crescent
* 1891: Chatterbox
* 1892: Red Prince
* 1893: Golden Ring
* 1894: Starlight
* 1895: The Jew
* 1896: Aline
* 1897: Gustaloga
* 1898: The Falloch
* 1899: Lillian Noel
* 1900: The Falloch
* 1901: Glenmalur
* 1902: Driftwood
* 1903: Sylvan Park
* 1904: Sylvan Park
* 1905: Claret Lass
* 1906: Claret Lass
* 1907: Mrs Lyons
* 1908: Bouncing Bess
* 1909: Octocide
* 1910: Lorello
* 1911: Castle Jewel
* 1912: Master of Light
* 1913: Laoghaire
* 1914: Bachelor's Fiasco
* 1915: Garrus
* 1916: Scarlet Rambler
* 1917: Noham
* 1918: King Frusquin
* 1919: Earn's Glen
* 1920: Red Flag
* 1921: Coup d'Essai
* 1922: Carthage
* 1923: Mullagher-a-Boo
* 1924: Blue Fish
* 1925: Jillsome
* 1926: Philanderer
* 1927: Lomond's Lake
* 1928: Tan Girl
* 1929: Swift Agnes
* 1930: Nice Token
* 1931: Sahabelle
* 1932: Cloverdale
* 1933: Song of the Hills
* 1934: Theorosa
* 1935: Sol Erin
* 1936: Harvest Star
* 1937: Kildonan's Hope
* 1938: Corofin
* 1939: Dennison
* 1940: Antrim
* 1941: Etoile de Lyons
* 1942: Anniversary
* 1943: Blue Speck
* 1944: Rhodes
* 1945: Golden Spur
* 1946: Spring Offensive
* 1947: Lorimer
* 1948: Signal Service
* 1949: Eastern Gem
* 1950: L'Horizon
* 1951: Storm Beacon
* 1952: Beau Sire
* 1953: Sunny Streak
* 1954: Hidalgo
* 1955: Zarathustra
* 1956: Jongleur
* 1957: Solartickle
* 1958: Irish Penny
* 1959: Ross Sea
* 1960: Avril Sprite
* 1961: Azurine
* 1962: Gay Challenger
* 1963: Nos Royalistes
* 1964: Cassim
* 1965: Bally Joy
* 1966: Wedding Present
* 1967: Vendor
* 1968: Stitch
* 1969: Candy Cane
* 1970: Reindeer
* 1971: Tantoul
* 1972: Manitoulin
* 1973: Cavo Doro
* 1974: Klairvimy
* 1975: Consol
* 1976: Yankee Gold