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 1865 Handicap 1 mile 2 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 REDMIRE Murray 3-6st 0lbs Mr E Brayley 8/1
2 JOHN DAVIS Crook 4-6st 10lbs Mr Hugh Smith 8/1
3 PROVISOR Tribe 3-6st 0lbs Mr W G Craven 100/6
4 TOMATO J Daley 4-8st 8lbs Baron Rothschild 20/1
5 GRATITUDE Challoner 5-8st 7lbs Mr W Robinson 20/1
6 CLAREMONT T French 4-8st 4lbs Mr J Bowes 20/1
7 PRINCE PLAUSIBLE Hibberd aged-8st 2lbs Count Batthyany 50/1
8 LUCKY STAR A Edwards 4-8st 2lbs Captain Machell 20/1
9 PARIS Morris 4-8st 0lbs Mr R Ten Broeck 50/1
10 PEON George Fordham 4-8st 0lbs Mr R Ten Broeck 10/1
11 MUEZZIN H Grimshaw 5-7st 10lbs Mr W Robinson 50/1
12 HISTORIAN S Adams 4-7st 10lbs Sir F Johnstone 3/1 fav
13 ZAMBEZI H Covey 3-7st 7lbs Mr J Merry 50/1
14 BALHAM Cannon aged-7st 6lbs Mr Morris 50/1
15 JACK O'LANTERN Loates 3-7st 4lbs Mr G Bryan 50/1
16 MOLLY CAREW Butters 4-6st 12lbs Mr Thomas 50/1
17 OUT AND OUTER J Grimshaw 3-6st 11lbs Mr William Day 100/7
18 TATTOO C Page aged-6st 9lbs Mr J B Starky 50/1
19 BLACK DRAUGHT Carroll 3-6st 8lbs Mr R Sutton 10/1
20 PERFUMER R Viney 4-6st 7lbs Mr John Kent junior 50/1
21 GAZZA LADRA Sayers 4-6st 7lbs Mr Richard C Naylor 50/1
22 MOLDAVIA Ford 3-6st 7lbs Mr E Elliott 50/1
23 SCARBOROUGH I Sadler 3-6st 5lbs Sir F Johnstone 50/1
24 CASTLE HILL Grace 4-6st 5lbs Mr John Kent junior 50/1
25 VIXEN Heartfield 3-6st 5lbs Mr Hodgman 50/1
26 CLAXTON Elphick 4-6st 2lbs Lord St Vincent 50/1
27 BARBAROSSA Huxtable 3-5st 12lbs Mr Blacoe 50/1
28 AURICULA Scorey 4-5st 10lbs Lord Exeter 50/1
29 PILGRIM G Sopp 3-5st 9lbs Mr J Merry 50/1
30 ARKANSAS Carver 3-5st 7lbs Lord Uxbridge 20/1
This race took place on Friday 28th July 1865 and was a subscription race of 15 sovereigns each for all ages. There were 63 subscribers, and it was valued at 300 sovereigns (equivalent to £39,000 in 2021). Over round 139%