Chesterfield Cup

The Chesterfield Cup, joint fifth oldest race at Glorious Goodwood, along with the Nassau Stakes, is a handicap over 1 mile 1 furlong and 192 yards and was first run in 1839 when known as the Harkaway Cup, and again in 1840 when mysteriously known as the Goodwood Cup of 1839. A year later it became known by the more suitable title of Chesterfield Cup, later adjusted to the Chesterfield Stakes. The race was named after the sixth Earl of Chesterfield, George Stanhope who won 2 Goodwood Cups with Priam who he purchased after the colt had landed the 1830 Epsom Derby. The race was part of the Glorious Goodwood programme up until 1969, then was replaced by the Laurels Handicap over roughly the same distance, but confined to older horses, with the Chesterfield Cup moved to the next meeting in August. The Cup was reintroduced to the Festival programme in 1979 on the last day, but in 1983 became a stalwart of the opening day of the Festival, albeit under a variety of names dependant on its sponsor.
Early history:-The inaugural running of the Chesterfield Cup, then known as the Harkaway Cup, was on Friday 2nd August 1839, was won by Lord Eglinton’s Bellona, beating Confusionee and The Corsair.
Goodwood Cup of 1839 (Chesterfield Cup) Handicap 1 mile 1 furlong 192yds
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 THE POTENTATE T Lye aged-8st 5lbs Lord Eglinton 7/1
2 GAMBIA Francis 3-6st 12lbs Lord Chesterfield 8/1
3 MUS S Rogers aged-8st 6lbs Duke of Richmond 12/1
4 EPIRUS Bill Scott 6-9st 5lbs Mr Bowes 12/1
5 THE DEY OF ALGIERS Sam Darling 4-8st 8lbs Colonel Peel 6/1
6 RETRIEVER Neale 4-8st 8lbs Major Hays 20/1
7 BEGGARMAN Jem Robinson 5-8st 3lbs HRH Duke of Orleans 3/1 fav
8 THE CORSAIR John Day 4-8st 3lbs Lord Lichfield 14/1
9 PESTONJEE BOMANJEE Planner 5-8st 0lbs Colonel Wyndham 20/1
10 NUBIAN Noble 5-7st 12lbs Mr Sandiland 33/1
11 DONCASTER Bill Day 6-7st 12lbs Duke of Richmond 33/1
12 CONFUSIONEE Stagg 4-7st 2lbs Duke of Richmond 33/1
13 GLENLIVAT Sheepaway 4-7st 0lbs Duke of Richmond 10/1
14 WILLESDEN Nat Flatman aged-7st 0lbs Mr Payne 12/1
15 THE CURRIER Howlett 4-6st 12lbs Duke of Richmond 12/1
16 NICHOLAS Pettit 3-6st 10lbs Colonel Anson 33/1
17 HELLESPONT Percy 3-6st 4lbs Lord Exeter 33/1
18 HALF-CASTE West 3-6st 0lbs Lord George Bentinck 33/1
19 CARLOS Bell 3-5st 0lbs Lord Verulam 33/1
20 EUCLID P Conolly 4-8st 12lbs Mr Thornhill 12/1
This race, the forerunner of the Chesterfield Cup, took place on Friday 31st July 1840 and was a subscription race of 15 sovereigns each for all ages. There were 44 subscribers, and it was valued at 300 sovereigns (equivalent to £43,000 in 2021). Over round 149%