Royal Ascot: Chesham Stakes

The Chesham Stakes, the opening race on the final day of the Royal meeting, is a Listed race over 7 furlongs for two-year-olds named after the 3rd Baron Chesham who served as Master of the Buckhounds in 1900-01. It was established in 1919, and it was originally contested over 5 furlongs, replacing the first leg of the Triennial Stakes which was first staged in 1848 when won by Elthiron. The race has an unusual restriction, being open only to horses sired by stallions who won over ten furlongs or more.  For a time the Chesham Stakes was contested over 6 furlongs, but was extended to 7 furlongs in 1996.
Early history:- The inaugural running of the first leg of the First Triennial Stakes over 5 furlongs, the forerunner of the Chesham Stakes, was on Tuesday 6th June 1848 when a field of 19 was headed by Elthiron, owned by Lord Eglinton, who beat Borneo and Jester by a head and the same. In 1919 the Triennial Stakes First leg was replaced by the Chesham Stakes and was run on Wednesday 18th June 1919 when Mr L Robinson's unnamed Decagone colt (7/4 fav) beat Fiddle de Dee and Pelope by 2 lengths and 3 lengths.
Chesham Stakes 1956 Listed race 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 DENTIVATE W Carr Nightingall Mr P Whinstone 100/8
2 EARL MARSHALL W Rickaby J Jarvis Lord Rosebery 11/4 fav
3 RIVIERA D Smith J F Watts Lord Derby 4/1
4 THE BOX L Piggott J A Waugh Mr J Baillie 10/1
5 NONSUCH S Clayton G Brooke Mr R Basset 20/1
6 JUDICATURE Jimmy Etherington Bellerby Mr E Brown 20/1
7 ON FIRE E Smith T E Leader Mr H J Joel 100/8
8 HERO'S WAY E Mercer J Jarvis Lord Milford 20/1
9 ROCKALINE A Breasley H Leader Mr Stavros Niarchos 8/1
10 MARKSHALL A J Russell R Ward Mrs J Daniels 20/1
11 SOLDIER SLIPPER W Elliott T R Rimell Miss Z Daniels 20/1
12 ABERAYON C Smirke M Marsh Mrs Judy Garland 20/1
13 NANAVATI R Poincelet France HH Aga Khan 6/1
This race took place on Thursday 21st June 1956 and was won by a bay colt by Denturins out of Activate, winning a first prize of £3805 (equivalent to £107,000 in 2020). Over round 124%
Chesham Stakes Listed race 7 furlongs 1919 (1848)
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