The Juddmonte International Stakes at York is one of Britain's most treasured Group 1 races and now the highlight on the opening day of the Ebor Festival on the Knavesmire.
The race was inaugurated in 1972, when Roberto, that year's Derby winner, scored and left Brigadier Gerard to settle for second - his only defeat in a career of 18 races.
Three horses – Dahlia, Ezzoud and Halling – have managed successive wins in the International Stakes, the latest of those coming in 1996.
The latest instalment looks set to bring about another clash of the best three-year-olds, with Epsom Derby one-two City Of Troy and Ambiente Friendly on track to appear at York.
The Juddmonte International Stakes will take place this year on Wednesday 21st August with a scheduled off-time of 15:25, the feature race on day one of the Ebor Festival.
The Juddmonte International Stakes is staged at York Racecourse in North Yorkshire. York is one of Britain's most treasured venues, with racing on the ground known as the Knavesmire dating back several centuries to the early 1700s.
York's biggest meeting comes in August via the four-day Ebor Festival, with the International Stakes, the Nunthorpe Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks joining the famous Ebor Handicap amongst the highlights.
From the Dante Festival in May, encompassing some major Saturday afternoon handicaps in high summer, York's status as one of Britain's pre-eminent Flat tracks is secure.
The left-handed galloping track is fair in essence and the long, wide home straight allows every horse an equal opportunity to make its impact.
The event was devised by Major Leslie Petch, a former Clerk of the Course at York, and first run in 1972 when the Epsom Derby winner Roberto handed Brigadier Gerard the only defeat of his illustrious career.
It has grown in stature over the intervening four decades and is now one of Britain's most treasured middle distance races. Since the late 1980s the race has been sponsored by the Juddmonte Farms breeding operation and has become widely recognised as the Juddmonte International.
The records show a who's who of the best horses, trainers and jockeys in the sport's history that have all claimed glory in the York Group 1.
The record is jointly-held by Sir Michael Stoute and Aidan O'Brien with six wins each ahead of the 2024 running.
Stoute has scored with Shardari (1986), Ezzoud (1993, 1994), Singspiel (1997), Notnowcato (2006) and Ulysses (2017), while the Ballydoyle supremo boasts York wins with Giant's Causeway (2000), Duke of Marmalade (2008), Rip van Winkle (2010), Declaration Of War (2013), Australia (2014) and Japan (2019).
The accolade of most wins in the race by a jockey goes to Frankie Dettori, the affable Italian scoring on six occasions with stars of the game such as Halling (1996), Singspiel (1997), Sakhee (2001), Sulamani (2004), Authorized (2007) and Mostahdaf (2023).
Two-time winners Dahlia (1975, 1975), Ezzoud (1993, 1994) and Halling (1995, 1996) are assured of their place in the history books when it comes to the International Stakes.
The status of this race is further illustrated by the modern day winners, including the likes of Authorized, Sea The Stars, Twice Over, Australia, Ulysses, Ghaiyyath and Baaed.
Its most famous winner of all, however, remains Frankel, the 2012 winner for Sir Henry Cecil, Tom Queally and sponsors Juddmonte.
His York win was the penultimate start in an unbeaten 14-race career and his first time racing beyond a mile as he well and truly put to bed any doubts about his stamina in a seven-length romp that thrilled the York crowds.