The May Hill Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and takes place each year in September.
History The event is named after May Hill, a successful filly whose victories included Doncaster's Park Hill Stakes in 1975. It was established in 1976, and was originally classed at Group 3 level. It was promoted to Group 2 status in 2003.
The May Hill Stakes is currently held on the first day of the four-day St. Leger Festival.
The leading horses from the race often go on to compete in the Fillies' Mile. The last to win both was Inspiral in 2021, when she was unbeaten in four races.
Records Leading jockey (6 wins): Frankie Dettori – Calando (1998), Teggiano (1999), White Moonstone (2010), Lyric of Light (2011), Indigo Girl (2020), Inspiral (2021)
Leading trainer (12 wins): Sir Henry Cecil – Formulate (1978), Bright Crocus (1982), Ever Genial (1984), Laluche (1986), Intimate Guest (1987), Tessla (1988), Rafha (1989), Midnight Air (1991), Solar Crystal (1995), Reams of Verse (1996), Midnight Line (1997), Half Glance (2001)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Time 1976 Triple First Greville Starkey Michael Stoute 1:45.92 1977 Tartan Pimpernel Willie Carson Dick Hern 1:42.55 1978 Formulate Joe Mercer Henry Cecil 1:41.69 1979 The Dancer Willie Carson Dick Hern 1:40.23 1980 Exclusively Raised Greville Starkey Michael Stoute 1:42.51 1981 Height of Fashion Joe Mercer Dick Hern 1:42.57 1982 Bright Crocus Lester Piggott Henry Cecil 1:39.37 1983 Satinette Willie Carson Dick Hern 1:40.57 1984 Ever Genial Lester Piggott Henry Cecil 1:42.88 1985 Midway Lady Lester Piggott Ben Hanbury 1:38.98 1986 Laluche Steve Cauthen Henry Cecil 1:40.42 1987 Intimate Guest Steve Cauthen Henry Cecil 1:39.27 1988 Tessla Michael Roberts Henry Cecil 1:39.24 1989 Rafha Steve Cauthen Henry Cecil 1:41.85 1990 Majmu Willie Carson John Gosden 1:41.67 1991 Midnight Air Pat Eddery Henry Cecil 1:38.72 1992 Marillette Pat Eddery John Gosden 1:38.56 1993 Hawajiss Walter Swinburn Michael Stoute 1:40.61 1994 Mamlakah Richard Hills Harry Thomson Jones 1:39.59 1995 Solar Crystal Willie Ryan Henry Cecil 1:39.44 1996 Reams of Verse Pat Eddery Henry Cecil 1:38.87 1997 Midnight Line Kieren Fallon Henry Cecil 1:37.49 1998 Calando Frankie Dettori David Loder 1:41.37 1999 Teggiano Frankie Dettori Clive Brittain 1:40.01 2000 Karasta Johnny Murtagh Sir Michael Stoute 1:37.95 2001 Half Glance Richard Quinn Henry Cecil 1:42.64 2002 Summitville Micky Fenton James Given 1:38.48 2003 Kinnaird Kevin Darley Patrick Haslam 1:40.66 2004 Playful Act Jimmy Fortune John Gosden 1:35.40 2005 Nasheej Richard Hughes Richard Hannon Sr. 1:36.67 2006 Simply Perfect Darryll Holland Jeremy Noseda 1:39.24 2007 Spacious Jamie Spencer James Fanshawe 1:37.58 2008 Rainbow View Jimmy Fortune John Gosden 1:42.42 2009 Pollenator Ryan Moore Richard Hannon Sr. 1:37.93 2010 White Moonstone Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor 1:38.73 2011 Lyric of Light Frankie Dettori Mahmood Al Zarooni 1:38.39 2012 Certify Mickael Barzalona Mahmood Al Zarooni 1:38.92 2013 Ihtimal Silvestre de Sousa Saeed bin Suroor 1:43.30 2014 Agnes Stewart Billy Lee Edward Lynam 1:37.20 2015 Turret Rocks Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 1:36.82 2016 Rich Legacy Oisin Murphy Ralph Beckett 1:41.24 2017 Laurens P. J. McDonald Karl Burke 1:40.06 2018 Fleeting Donnacha O'Brien Aidan O'Brien 1:38.71 2019 Powerful Breeze James Doyle Hugo Palmer 1:39.31 2020 Indigo Girl Frankie Dettori John Gosden 1:38.84 2021 Inspiral Frankie Dettori John and Thady Gosden 1:37.47 2022 Polly Pott Daniel Tudhope Harry Dunlop 1:38.34 2023 Darnation Clifford Lee Karl Burke 1:41.38 2024 Desert Flower William Buick Charlie Appleby 1:37.47 2025 Aylin David Egan Karl Burke 1:39.79 2026 Musical Times William Buick Charlie Appleby 1:37.58
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British flat horse races
References Paris-Turf: , , , , , , Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , galopp-sieger.de – May Hill Stakes. horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – May Hill Stakes (2018). pedigreequery.com – May Hill Stakes – Doncaster.