2000 Guineas Stakes ? Race Details:
When:	Late April ? Early May
Track Location:	Rowley Mile Racecourse, Newmarket
Race Distance:	1 mile (1609metres)
Race Status:	Group 1
Race Conditions:	Three-year-old Thoroughbred Colts & Fillies
Stakes:	?400 000
Inaugurated:	1809

The 2000 Guineas Stakes is the first jewel in the highly esteemed Triple Crown in England. Raced over 1 mile at the Rowley Mile Racecourse at Newmarket in late April or early May annually, this Group 1 flat race is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies, and excludes geldings. Wizard was the first winner of the 2000 Guineas Stakes on April 18 1809, which is one of the oldest UK races. The event is named in accordance to the original prize money offered which was 2000 guineas, stakes are now set at ?400 000.

The 2000 Guineas is the first of only five races in Great Britain elected as ?Classics?. All of these events are limited to three-year-old contenders and the Triple Crown series encompasses the three classics that are open to both colts and geldings, the 2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and the St. Leger Stakes.

There are many important trial races held in the lead-up to the 2000 Guineas including the Craven Stakes (1 mile) and Greenham Stakes (7 furlongs) in mid April. Runners in the 2000 Guineas, however, don?t always choose to compete in these prep races with many horses having their last start before the first Triple Crown race the previous autumn. The last horse to contest the Greenham Stakes prior to winning the 2000 Guineas was Rodirgo de Triano (1992), who placed fourth. The Craven Stakes has been a better indication for the Guineas in recent years, with Haafhd (2004) claiming victory in both events.

Potential 2000 Guineas winners can also be found in the Group 1 two-year-old trail race, the Dewhurst Stakes (seven furlongs). When betting on the 2000 Guineas one of the key things to look for is the runner?s performance as two-year-olds in the short-distance flat races the previous season. Sprinters who display speed and power of stamina or staying ability see the most success, especially those with experience on the track at Rowley Mile.

The 2000 Guineas has been contested by fields of all sizes, the most runners to start was in 1930 with 28 horses. The fewest number of starters was in 1892 and 1830, which were both two-horse races. Colts have dominated in the 2000 Guineas in the last few decades, and Garden Path was the most recent filly to win in 1944.

Many champions of the English turf has claimed victory in the 2000 Guineas, including star gallopers Nashwan (1989), Dancing Brave (1986), Nijinsky (1970), Sir Ivor (1968) and Royal Palace (1967). Perhaps most famous of all is the 1971 winner Brigadier Gerard who continued on to win 17 of his 18 race starts in an amazing career that saw him be given a 144 rating, the second highest ever awarded. Recently the Aiden O?Brien Ballydoyle stable has lead the way in the 2000 Guineas training four of the last seven winners.

Lots of the 2000 Guineas runners continue their campaigns with a run in the next two legs of the Triple Crown. Besides these two events, the field that makes up the other Classic races of the season is often very similar to the 2000 Guineas. It is not just local horses contesting the Guineas, with lots of international competitors found amongst the line-up attracted to the status and prestige associated with the first English Classic race of the year.

2000 Guineas Stakes ? Records:
Race Record:	1:35.08 set by Mister Baileys in 1994
Largest Winning Margin:	Tudor Minstrel by 8 lengths in 1947
Longest-Priced Winner:	Rockavon at 66/1 in 1961
Shortest-Priced Winner:	St. Frusquin at 12/100 in 1896
Most Successful Jockey:	Jem Robinson won the 2000 Guineas an incredible 9 times with Enamel (1825), Cadland (1828), Riddlesworth (1831), Clearwell (1833), Glencoe (1834), Ibrahim (1835), Bay Middleton (1836), Conyngham (1847) and Flatcatcher (1848).
Most Successful Trainer:	John Scott claimed victory 7 times with Meteor (1842), Cotherstone (1843), Nunnykirk (1849), West Australian (1853), Fazzoletto (1856), The Wizard (1860) and The Marquis (1862).

2000 Guineas Stakes ? Recent Race Results:

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2009	Sea the Stars	Michael Kinane	John Oxx	Chirstopher Tsui	1:35.88
2008	Henrythenavigator	Johnny Murtagh	Adian O’Brien	Sue Magnier	1:39.14
2007	Cockney Rebel	Olivier Preslier	Geoff Guffer	Phil Cunningham	1:35.28
2006	George Washington	Kieren Fallon	Aidan O’Brien	Magnier / Tabor / Smith	1:36.86
2005	Footstepsinthesand	Kieren Fallon	Aidan O’Brien	Tabor / Magnier	1:36.10
2004	Haafhd	Richard Hills	Barry Hills	Hamdan Al Maktoum	1:36.64
2003	Refuse To Bend	Pat Smullen	Dermot Weld	Moyglare Stud Farm	1:37.98
2002	Rock of Gibraltar	Johnny Murtagh	Aidan O’Brien	Ferguson / Magnier	1:36.50
2001	Golan	Kieren Fallon	Sir Michael Stoute	Lord Weinstock	1:37.48
2000	King’s Best	Kieren Fallon	Sir Michael Stoute	Saeed Suhail	1:37.77