March Stakes


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The March Stakes was a flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years. It was run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs (2,816 metres), and was scheduled to take place each year in late August.

History
The event was named after the Earldom of March, a title inherited by the eldest son of the Duke of Richmond, the owner of Goodwood Racecourse. It was established when a new fixture was introduced at the venue in 1965.

The race was originally restricted to three-year-olds, and it was formerly a leading trial for the St. Leger Stakes. The first horse to achieve victory in both events was Commanche Run in 1984, and the latest was Michelozzo in 1989.

The March Stakes was opened to older horses in 1999 and closed to them again from 2017. In 2018 it was upgraded to Group 3 status as part of the European Pattern Committee's commitment to improving the race programme for stayers in Europe. The race was removed from the Pattern and Listed race programme in 2023.

From 2018 the race was run in memory of John Dunlop (1939-2018), a racehorse trainer who trained at Arundel, near Goodwood.

Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
 * First Charter – 2002, 2003
 * Tungsten Strike – 2007, 2008

Leading jockey (4 wins):
 * Willie Carson – Water Mill (1980), Band (1983), Jahafil (1991), Rain Rider (1992)

Leading trainer (7 wins):
 * Sir Michael Stoute – Zaffaran (1988), Shaiba (1993), Ta-Lim (1998), Alva Glen (2000), First Charter (2002, 2003), Platitude (2016)