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 1871 Handicap 1 mile 2 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 BOTHERATION Constable 3-6st 7lbs Mr F Pryor 25/1
2 STERLING T Chaloner 3-8st 11lbs Mr Blaydon 100/7
3 VULCAN H Custance aged-8st 6lbs Mr Lombard 100/7
4 GAMOS George Fordham 4-8st 5lbs Mr G G Keswick 50/1
5 MARTYRDOM Cannon 5-8st 2lbs Lord Calthorpe 4/1 fav
6 FRIVOLITY Hunt 4-8st 0lbs Mr Lyndon 50/1
7 PRETENDER Hudson 5-8st 0lbs Mr John Johnstone 50/1
8 DIGBY GRAND C Page 3-8st 0lbs Mr G G Keswick 33/1
9 SOMNE Luff 3-7st 13lbs Major Fridolin 50/1
10 CORISANDE Maidment 3-7st 13lbs Baron Rothschild 10/1
11 NOT OUT Hibberd 4-7st 10lbs Mr S Meyer 50/1
12 OXONIAN Wyatt 5-7st 11lbs Mr William Day 50/1
13 ANTON Jeffery 3-7st 9lbs Mr T E Once 9/2
14 TABERNACLE G Jarvis 4-7st 8lbs Lord Rivers 25/1
15 BRIDGEWATER Fred Webb 4-7st 7lbs Lord Ailesbury 100/12
16 ROYAL RAKE Jewitt 5-7st 7lbs Lord Rendlesham 20/1
17 VERANDAH Wilson 3-7st 5lbs Mr M Delamarre 25/1
18 REVOKE Loates 3-7st 3lbs Lord Annesley 25/1
19 TEMPLE Macksey 4-7st 1lb Mr J Barnard 50/1
20 THOR J Crickmere 5-7st 0lbs Prince Batthyany 50/1
21 GOLOS Butler 3-7st 1lb Major Fridolin 20/1
22 LORD HAWKE W Gray 3-6st 10lbs Mr John Johnstone 10/1
23 CORREGIDOR T Osborne 3-6st 10lbs Lord Annesley 10/1
24 PIQUILLO Newhouse 3-6st 3lbs Mr H Savile 33/1
25 ADMIRAL Wilkins 5-5st 10lbs Mr S Meyer 50/1
26 MOONRAKER Anthony 3-5st 6lbs Sir C Rushout 33/1
DSQ MORNINGTON Mordan 3-7st 0lbs Mr E Brayley 33/1
This race took place on Friday 28th July 1871 and was a subscription race of 15 sovereigns each for all ages. There were 66 subscribers, and it was valued at 300 sovereigns (equivalent to £38,000 in 2021). Over round 147%