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 1868 Handicap 1 mile 2 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 CHARNWOOD Hammond 3-7st 6lbs Lord Stamford 100/30 fav
2 THE PALMER Wells 4-9st 2lbs Sir Joseph Hawley 50/1
3 MERCURY Cameron 3-6st 6lbs Mr J Johnstone 5/1
4 ATHENA Mordan 3-7st 7lbs Mr Padwick 50/1
5 LANERET George Fordham 5-9st 6lbs Mr G Bryan 100/8
6 KING VICTOR W Bevill 4-9st 5lbs Mr W Bevill 25/1
7 SILENUS J Daley 4-8st 9lbs Duke of Newcastle 100/8
8 ABERGELDIE J Goater 4-8st 7lbs Mr F Swindell 50/1
9 CAITHNESS Cannon 5-8st 0lbs Mr Palmer 8/1
10 ST RONAN Maidment 3-7st 10lbs Mr Henry Chaplin 8/1
11 PAUL JONES Quince 3-7st 9lbs Mr G Hodgman 5/1
12 PYTHON Parry 4-7st 9lbs Mr G Angell 8/1
13 SPECIAL T Sadler 5-7st 3lbs Mr John Barham Day 50/1
14 ELECTION Cradock 3-7st 0lbs Mr Hedley 50/1
15 THE DEAN Hudson 4-7st 0lbs Mr J Johnstone 50/1
16 SEVILLE Wyatt 4-6st 10lbs Mr Joseph Dawson 100/7
17 RURIC Kenyon 3-6st 12lbs Mr G Bryan 50/1
18 LANDSCAPE Butler 3-6st 7lbs Mr MacKenzie 50/1
19 SUNSTROKE Butters 3-6st 8lbs Mr J Merry 50/1
20 SNOWDROP Milne 3-6st 6lbs Mr J Dixon 50/1
21 WARRINGTON Barnard 3-6st 0lbs Lord Stamford 50/1
22 PRESIDENT LINCOLN Wilson 3-5st 12lbs Mr G Payne 50/1
23 THE RETURNED Fox 3-5st 11lbs Mr Beverley 50/1
This race took place on Friday 31st July 1868 and was a subscription race of 15 sovereigns each for all ages. There were 60 subscribers, and it was valued at 300 sovereigns (equivalent to £36,000 in 2021). Over round 142%