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 1870 Handicap 1 mile 2 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 SOUCAR Rowell 3-6st 9lbs Mr E Brayley 25/1
2 TABERNACLE Fred Webb 3-6st 11lbs Mr J C Stuart 6/4 fav
3 BORDER KNIGHT Snowden 4-8st 4lbs Sir C Legard 100/8
4 VESPASIAN Custance aged-9st 7lbs Sir C Legard 100/8
5 ROSICRUCIAN Wells 5-9st 0lbs Sir Joseph Hawley 100/30
6 VAGABOND J Adams 4-8st 6lbs Sir C Rushout 33/1
7 STARTER Cannon 4-8st 3lbs Mr T Hughes 50/1
8 OXONIAN Wyatt 4-7st 13lbs Mr C Radcliffe 33/1
9 LADY OF LYONS Butters 3-7st 13lbs Mr J Merry 20/1
10 GLENFALLOCH Hudson 4-7st 5lbs Lord Poulett 20/1
11 POMPELI Hunt 4-6st 13lbs Lord Stamford 50/1
12 TIT-BIT Jewitt 3-6st 12lbs Prince Soltykoff 33/1
13 VAN AMBURGH Wilson 6-6st 12lbs Mr G Hodgman 50/1
14 DARK CLOUD W Gray 3-6st 10lbs Mr W Vaughan 100/8
15 ANNIE WOOD Wood 3-6st 10lbs Mr A Taylor 50/1
16 BARFORD Gradwell 3-6st 8lbs Mr W Bevill 100/8
This race took place on Friday 29th July 1870 and was a subscription race of 15 sovereigns each for all ages. There were 56 subscribers, and it was valued at 300 sovereigns (equivalent to £36,000 in 2021). Over round 127%