King's Plate (South Africa)

The King's Plate (known as the Queen's Plate during the reigns of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II) is an annual Grade I horse race at Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town, South Africa that has been run since 1861, and is one of South Africa's premier horse races.^[1] Currently sponsored by the South African vintner L'Ormarins, it was branded the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate from 2005 to 2022,^[2] and the L'Ormarins King's Plate since 2022. Traditionally named in honour of the British monarch, it reverted to the "King's Plate" name as a result of the accession of King Charles III in September 2022.^[1][3][4]

The race was first run, as the Queen's Plate, in April 1861 in honour of Queen Victoria after she donated a silver plate and 500 sovereigns to the South African Turf Club.^[5]

The winner of the race earns a berth in the Breeders' Cup Mile.^{[citation needed]}

It is customary for the British high commissioner to South Africa to attend the race and read out a message of good wishes from the British monarch.^[4]

See also

• List of South African flat horse races