*The 2000 Guineas was first run in 1809 and won by Wizard. His connections - trainer Tom Perren, owner Christopher Wilson and jockey Bill Clift - were also responsible for the first 1000 Guineas winner, Charlotte in 1814.
*The Classic, run over Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course, is for three-year-old colts and fillies. Few fillies, who carry 5lb less than colts, run in the 2000 Guineas and just seven have been successful - Pastille (1822), Crucifix (1840), Formosa (dead-heat with the colt Moslem in 1868), Pilgrimage (1878), Shotover (1882), Sceptre (1902) and Garden Path (1944).
* The largest 2000 Guineas field was in 1930 when there were 28 runners in the race won by Diolite while 27 ran in 2000, 1964, 1951 and 1933. In both 1829 and 1830 there were just two competitors, with both winners - Patron and Augustus - owned by Lord Exeter and trained by Charles Marson. The maximum field allowed for safety reasons is currently 30.
*Since 1900, the longest winning distance in the 2000 Guineas was recorded in 1947 by Tudor Minstrel, who scored by eight lengths. During the same period, the Classic has been won by a short-head a dozen times - Neil Gow (1910), Kennymore (1914), Adam’s Apple (1927), Pay Up (1936), Kingsway (1943), Nimbus (1949), Palestine (1950), Only For Life (1963), Kashmir II (1966), Royal Palace (1967), Mister Baileys (1994) and, most recently, Mark Of Esteem (1996).
*The victory of Henrythenavigator in 2008 was the first time that a British Classic had been won by a nose – the new minimum winning distance introduced by the BHA less than three months earlier.
*The longest-priced winner in the history of the 2000 Guineas was 1961 hero Rockavon, who was returned at 66/1. Not nearly so generous were the odds of 12/100 laid on St Frusquin in 1896 - the shortest-priced winner.
* In the 201 runnings to date, a total of 79 favourites or joint-favourites have obliged in the 2000 Guineas - just under 40% of winners have headed the betting market. Favourite backers have not had such a good time over the last 18 years. George Washington, successful in 2006 at 6/4, became the first favourite to oblige since Zafonic at 5/6 in 1993.
*Irish-trained horses have won 13 renewals of the 2000 Guineas since 1900. The first was 1960 winner Martial, trained by Paddy Prendergast, and he has been followed by Sir Ivor (1968 Vincent O’Brien), Nijinsky (1970 Vincent O’Brien), Nebbiolo (1977 Kevin Prendergast), Lomond (1983 Vincent O’Brien), El Gran Senor (1984 Vincent O’Brien), King Of Kings (1998 Aidan O’Brien), Rock Of Gibraltar (2002 Aidan O’Brien), Refuse To Bend (2003 Dermot Weld), Footstepsinthesand (2005 Aidan O’Brien), George Washington (2006 Aidan O’Brien), Henrythenavigator (2008 Aidan O’Brien) and Sea The Stars (2009 John Oxx). Since 1900 there have been 11 winners trained in France. They are 1933 Rodosto (trained by Harry Count), 1937 Le Ksar (Frank Carter), 1940 Djebel (Albert Swann), 1952 Thunderhead II (Etienne Pollett), 1959 Taboun (Alec Head), 1964 Baldric II (Ernie Fellows), 1966 Kashmir II (Charles Bartholomew), 1974 Nonoalco (Francois Boutin), 1982 Zino (Francois Boutin), 1994 Zafonic (Andre Fabre) and 1995 Pennekamp (Andre Fabre).
*The first horse to complete the 2000 Guineas/Epsom Derby double was Smolensko, owned by Sir Charles Bunbury, in 1813. Since then a further 35 horses have completed this double, the most recent being Sea The Stars in 2009.
* Sir Michael Stoute, responsible for the 2000 Guineas winner Golan in 2001, is the joint-most successful current trainer with five victories. His other four winners were Shadeed (1985), Doyoun (1988), Entrepreneur (1997) and King’s Best (2000). Irish handler Aidan O’Brien equalled the tally of the Newmarket handler in 2008 when Henrythenavigator got the better of New Approach in a thrilling finish. The master of Ballydoyle had previously scored with George Washington (2006), King Of Kings (1998), Rock Of Gibraltar (2002) and Footstepsinthesand (2005). Richard Hannon has saddled three winners - Mon Fils (1973), Don’t Forget Me (1987) and Tirol (1990).
*The most successful jockey of the current generation in the 2000 Guineas is Kieren Fallon with four wins. Fallon has ridden the winner in four of the last nine years with George Washington (2006), Footstepsinthesand (2005), Golan (2001) and King’s Best (2000).
*The record time is 1m 35.08s, set by Mister Baileys in 1994. Last year’s race was won by Sea The Stars in a time of 1m 35.88s.
*Queen Elizabeth II owned the 1958 winner of the 2000 Guineas, Pall Mall, while her great-grandfather, King Edward VII, owned both the 1900 victor Diamond Jubilee (when he was the Prince of Wales) and Minoru, successful in 1909.
