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.

Chesterfield Cup 1864 Handicap 1 mile 2 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 KING OF UTOPIA Hibberd 4-7st 7lbs Mr Whittaker 100/6
2 SKEFFINGTON Doolan 3-6st 4lbs Mr Sutton 100/1
3 MADCAP H Sharp 3-5st 7lbs Lord Westmoreland 2/1 fav
4 LORD CLIFDEN John Osborne 4-8st 12lbs Lord St Vincent 20/1
5 VIVID A Edwards 4-8st 6lbs Count Frederick de Lagrange 100/1
6 FANTAIL W Boyce 4-8st 2lbs Mr Perry 100/1
7 TIPPLER Judd 4-8st 0lbs Marquis of Hastings 100/1
8 LADY CLIFDEN George Fordham 6-7st 13lbs Captain Christie 20/1
9 BLACK DEER Perry 4-7st 9lbs Mr G Rigby 100/1
10 OLD ORANGE GIRL Challoner 4-7st 7lbs Mr Bowes 20/1
11 HISTORIAN Maidment 3-7st 5lbs Sir F Johnstone 100/1
12 MOLLY CAREW Zanker 3-7st 4lbs Mr R Wales 25/1
13 VALIANT Morris 3-7st 0lbs Mr Hodgman 25/1
14 SUSPICION Carroll 3-7st 0lbs Mr W Bevill 50/1
15 AVONDALE Cannon 4-6st 13lbs Mr H J Smith 100/1
16 MOULSEY Loates 3-6st 9lbs Lord Bateman 15/1
17 MUEZZIN S Adams 4-6st 9lbs Mr William Day 7/2
18 CRISIS H Covey 3-6st 9lbs Mr J Merry 8/1
19 ANTOINETTE Goodwin 3-6st 7lbs Mr W Morris 15/1
20 PEON Smith 3-6st 6lbs Mr Alexander 100/6
21 MERRY MAID J Grimshaw 5-6st 4lbs Mr Payne 15/1
22 FINESSE Cranshaw 3-6st 2lbs Lord Annesley 100/1
23 GAZZA LADRA Sayers 3-6st 0lbs Mr Richard C Naylor 100/1
24 QUARANTINE Boxall 3-5st 9lbs Mr Richard C Naylor 100/1
25 BLACK ROCK Phillips 3-5st 7lbs Duke of Beaufort 33/1
This race took place on Friday 29th July 1864 and was a subscription race of 15 sovereigns each for all ages. There were 75 subscribers, and it was valued at 300 sovereigns (equivalent to £39,000 in 2021). Over round 135%