Major York sprint to be renamed Minster Stakes

The six-furlong Group Two sprint at York’s Dante meeting will now be known as the Minster Stakes, one of several changes announced by the British Horseracing Authority’s Flat Pattern Committee.

Run in recent years as the 1895 Duke of York Stakes, the change has been approved following ratification by the European Pattern Committee.

As previously announced, Epsom’s Coronation Cup will move from the Friday to the Saturday of the Epsom Derby Festival. The Coronation Cup will be run for £1million from this year, sitting alongside the first ever £2million Derby.

The Group Three John of Gaunt Stakes will move from Haydock to Epsom, now to be run as the Tattenham Corner Stakes, while the Listed Further Flight Stakes transfers from Nottingham to Musselburgh’s Easter Saturday fixture and becomes the Goliath Cup.

The Spring Cup at Lingfield and Mill Reef at Newbury will retain Listed and Group Two status for now, but are among the races at risk of being downgraded unless certain parameters are met this year, along with the Listed National Stakes at Sandown.

The BHA’s Director of International Racing and Development, Ruth Quinn, said: “Relatively minor adjustments to the British Flat black type programme this year, but some important changes nonetheless and we are grateful for the support of racecourses who have collaborated with the Flat Pattern Committee on those amendments.

“Following the annual Pattern and Listed race review by the European Pattern Committee it was reassuring to note the strength of race ratings in Britain in 2025, with most races above the expected quality control parameter and none being downgraded this year. We hope Britain’s three races at risk of downgrade in 2027 are supported and achieve the necessary standard this year to maintain their place in the black type programme.

“The progress made with minimum values for Pattern and Listed races in 2026 is commendable, but necessary if we are to remain internationally relevant at the highest level. The Flat Pattern Committee will continue to support industry efforts to boost the supply chain of high-quality horses in Britain and to increase the volume of such horses being raced and retained in Britain.”

Looking further afield, the European Pattern Committee approved the upgrade of the Prix Paul de Moussac to Group Two status in early June, while France Galop has moved the Prix d’Ispahan and Prix Vicomtesse Vigier, both Group Ones, to a Thursday evening card with the aim of showcasing quality racing to a younger audience.