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 1874 Handicap 1 mile 2 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 DALHAM Mills G Platt 3-5st 12lbs Mr T Smith 25/1
2 BLINKHOOLIE Colt Thompson 3-6st 2lbs Mr John Johnstone 20/1
3 FLOWER OF DORSET Newhouse 4-7st 12lbs Sir F Johnstone 100/8
4 LOWLANDER Morris 4-10st 7lbs Mr H Bird 33/1
5 THORN John Osborne 4-9st 7lbs Mr R N Batt 100/12
6 MANILLA George Fordham 6-9st 4lbs M Lefevre 20/1
7 BERTRAM Jewitt 5-9st 0lbs Mr A C Barclay 8/1
8 ALDRICH Constable 3-8st 0lbs Lord Rosebery 25/1
9 TICHBORNE Mordan 4-7st 7lbs Mr Somerville 100/8
10 NAPOLITAIN Glover 3-7st 4lbs Lord Wilton 100/30 fav
11 MARECHAL NIEL H Covey 3-7st 4lbs Captain Cooper 50/1
12 DANIEL A Wood 3-7st 4lbs Mr J Merry 20/1
13 HESSLEDEN Morbey 4-7st 3lbs Mr Wallace 50/1
14 BLANCHEFLEUR Fred Archer 3-6st 12lbs Lord Falmouth 5/1
15 CHINGACHGOOK W Clay 3-6st 8lbs Lord Calthorpe 7/1
16 VICTORIA ALEXANDRA Major 4-6st 0lbs Mr W S Cartwright 25/1
17 ALEXANDRA C Archer 3-5st 10lbs Mr F Fisher 50/1
This race took place on Friday 31st July 1874 and was a subscription race of 15 sovereigns each for all ages. There were 57 subscribers, and it was valued at 300 sovereigns (equivalent to £36,000 in 2021). Over round 127%