British Classics 2020

The British Classics are five long-standing horse races run in Britain. They are restricted to three-year-old horses and traditionally represent the pinnacle of achievement for racehorses against their own age group. As such, victory in any Classic marks a horse as amongst the very best of a generation. Victory in two or even three of the series (a rare feat known as the English Triple Crown) marks a horse as truly exceptional.

Starting this year, not only will we run the Classics but also prep races. However, unlike the Kentucky Derby and Oaks prep races, you will not earn points to enter from running in the preps - all Classic races will be open to all 3-year-olds that have run in at least one designated prep race this year.

Classics (in bold) and Preps Schedule

Fred Darling Stakes (7F fillies only) - March 28
Craven Stakes (8F colts only) - March 28
Prix Finlande (9F fillies only) - April 4
Prix La Force (10F colts only) - April 4
Feilden Stakes (9F colts and fillies) - April 11
Blue Riband Trial (10F colts and fillies) - April 18
Sandown Classic Trial (9F colts and fillies) - April 25
2000 Guineas Stakes (8F colts and fillies) - May 2
1000 Guineas Stakes (8F fillies only) - May 3

Cheshire Oaks (11F fillies only) - May 11
Lingfield Derby Trial (11F colts only) - May 11
Chester Vase (12F colts and fillies) - May 18
Epsom Oaks (12F fillies only) - June 6
Epsom Derby (12F colts and fillies) - June 7

Queen's Vase (13F colts and fillies) - June 13
Grand Prix de Paris (12F colts and fillies) - June 27
St Leger Stakes (13F colts and fillies) - July 3

The 2000 Guineas Stakes is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (8F) and is scheduled to take place each year in late April or early May. It is one of Britain's five Classic races, and it is the first to be run in the year. It also serves as the opening leg of the Triple Crown, followed by the Derby and the St Leger, although the feat of winning all three has been rarely attempted in recent decades.

The 1000 Guineas Stakes is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (8F) and 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.

The Epsom Oaks is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs (12F). It is the second-oldest of the five Classic races, after the St Leger. It is the third of Britain's five Classic races to be held during the season, and the second of two restricted to fillies.

The Epsom Derby is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs (12F) on the first Saturday of June each year. It is Britain's richest horse race, and the most prestigious of the five Classics. It is sometimes referred to as the "Blue Riband" of the turf. The name "Derby" has become synonymous with great races all over the world, and as such has been borrowed many times, notably by the Kentucky Derby in the United States. The Derby run at Epsom is the original and in Great Britain is invariably referred to as "the Derby".

The St Leger Stakes is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs (14F*) and is scheduled to take place each year in September**. Established in 1776, the St Leger is the oldest of Britain's five Classics. It is the last of the five to be run each year and its distance is longer than any of the other four. The St Leger is the final leg of the English Triple Crown, which begins with the 2000 Guineas and continues with the Derby. It also completes the Fillies' Triple Crown, following on from the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks. However, the St Leger has rarely featured Triple Crown contenders in recent decades - the only one in recent years being the 2012 2,000 Guineas and Derby winner, Camelot, who finished second in the St Leger.

*Gallop Racer doesn't have a 14F race, so our version has been shortened to 13F.
**We're not going to have such a large break between the Derby and the St Leger, so it will be run in July.

NOTE - Any horse is allowed to participate! There will be a "weight by grade" system in the preps where higher graded horses will carry higher imposts, with females given a 3 lb break if they choose to enter. All colts will carry 126 lbs in the Classics, while fillies will carry 123 lbs.

2ND NOTE - Horses that participated in any of the 2011 - 2019 races related to the Triple Crown (Derby, Preakness and Belmont), the Triple Tiara (Oaks, Black Eyed Susan and Acorn) or the UAE Derby (Dubai), as well as the British Classics (1000 Guineas, 2000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks, Epsom Derby, and St Leger) are not allowed to be entered in this year's rendition. In real life, only 3-year-olds are allowed to compete and you're only a 3yo horse once! This is to give all horses that are and will be on SS a chance to compete. If you don't remember which of your horses competed, you can check the list below with turf horses that competed in previous year's British Classics, as well as the post with colts and fillies that previously ran as 3-year-olds in dirt races.

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Ineligible Turf Horses from 2016 - 2019

Colts
Bolo
Candore
Corkscrew
Deja Entendu
Draconis
Dream Gazer
Di Neve
Fleet Street
General Disarray
London Bridge
Lustre
Method
Nouvar
Roman Flame
Speed Demon
Thanos
Vain
War Hero
Warpaint

Fillies
Accendere
Ansia
Boudacious
Daella
Chiricahua
Djinn
Gambit
Jasey Rae
Kindle
Kyoto Kitten
Leise
Messalina
Noble Hierarch
Obsidian
Palenque
Purity
Regal
Rhapsody
Sagittarius
Sassy Lassie
Secret Silence
Southern Dancer
Urban Magic
Veramente Neve
Vice Versa
Wren