South Africa’s premier WFA mile was first run in honour of Queen Victoria after she gifted a silver plate and 500 sovereigns to the South African Turf Club.
The inaugural contest, staged as The Queen’s Plate, was held as a heats event, and won by Cape Town owner Mr Chiappini’s horse, Dispatch in April 1861. The event has maintained its royal ties meticulously ever since.
The race was run as the King’s Plate from the reign of Edward VII through to George VI. Reverting to the Queen’s Plate when Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne in 1952, it continued to run under that name until 2022.
It is an honour to be associated with an event that carried her name for a remarkable 70 years. In keeping with the qualities of grace, elegance and above all, tradition that she so embodied, L’Ormarins is proud to continue that legacy under the reign of King Charles III under the new banner of the King’s Plate.
The 2024 L’Ormarins King’s Plate will be held on Saturday, 7 January 2023 at Kenilworth Racecourse, Cape Town. Ticket sales on Computicket.