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 1858 Handicap 1 mile 1 furlong 192yds
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 SUNBEAM Challoner John Osborne snr 3-7st 4lbs Mr James Merry 8/1
2 KING OF THE FOREST Charlton 4-7st 7lbs Mr R E Cooper 10/1
3 KATHERINE LOGIE French 5-7st 13lbs Mr J La Mert 8/1
4 HARRY STANLEY Perry 3-5st 12lbs Major Houstoun 4/1 fav
5 SEDBURY George Fordham 3-7st 12lbs Mr Howard 100/6
6 DITTO Witherington 3-7st 7lbs Mr R H Jones 25/1
7 NEREUS J Rogers 4-7st 6lbs Colonel Martyn 7/1
8 MENTMORE Cresswell 3-7st 4lbs Baron Rothschild 10/1
9 ORCHEHILL Bullock 3-7st 2lbs Captain Christie 8/1
10 PENSIONER Pritchard 3-7st 2lbs Mr Mills 100/6
11 NEWINGTON Belton 5-7st 2lbs Mr Gratwicke 25/1
12 ZOUAVE Plumb 3-7st 0lbs Count Frederick De Lagrange 10/1
13 TRICOLOR F Adams 4-7st 0lbs Lord Anglesey 10/1
14 CHANOINESSE Bray 3-6st 7lbs Lord Clifden 25/1
15 WINDHOUND Colt Custance 3-6st 2lbs Sir William Booth 25/1
16 BABYLON Last 4-5st 12lbs Mr R Ten Broeck 25/1
17 TURNED LOOSE Grimshaw 3-5st 0lbs Mr Payne 10/1
18 THE BEACON Mitchell 3-4st 8lbs Mr Hodgman 25/1
This race took place on Friday 30th July1858 and was a subscription race of 15 sovereigns each for all ages. There were 43 subscribers, and it was valued at 300 sovereigns (equivalent to £36,000 in 2021). Over round 146%