Goodwood Cup

The Goodwood Cup is the oldest of all of the races held at the Glorious Goodwood meeting having been established in 1808 as the Silver Cup over 3 miles. The first three times the race was run it was won by Bucephalus, the Silver trophy being permanently awarded to his owner Mr Trevanion. This required a new Gold trophy to be made, which is still contested today, and the inaugural running of that event, the Goodwood Cup, took place in 1812. Although it was initially contested over 3 miles, it was then reduced to 2 miles 5 furlongs, while in 1971 it became a Group 2 race. In 1985 it was degraded to Group 3 level, and by 1990 its distance was reduced to 2 miles 4 furlongs. In 1991 it was reduced still further to 2 miles, but by 1995 it had regained its Group 2 status and then, in 2017, it was promoted to Group 1. It is now firmly established as the second leg of the Stayers’ Triple Crown, sandwiched between the Ascot Gold Cup and the Doncaster Cup, and is traditionally held on the opening day of the 5-day meeting.
Early history:-The inaugural running of the Gold Cup was on Monday 4th May 1812 when Mr Cope’s 4-year-old chestnut Shoestrings beat the 6-year-olds Smallhopes and Hylas.

Goodwood Cup 1846 Group 1 2 miles 6 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 GRIMSTON T Lye 3-7st 4lbs Mr O'Brien 2/1 jt fav
2 WOLF-DOG F Butler 4-9st 1lbs Mr Moore 5/1
3 CONNAUGHT RANGER F Bell 4-8st 5lbs Mr Irwin 20/1
4 LOTHARIO Nat Flatman 6-9st 7lbs Duke of Richmond 2/1 jt fav
5 STOMACHER H Bell 5-8st 1lbs Mr Gratwicke 20/1
6 THE PACHA Marlow 4-8st 1lbs Mr Carr 20/1
7 SUTLEJ J Chapple 4-8st 1lbs Sir George Heathcote 20/1
8 ROSE OF CASHMERE W Abdale 4-8st 1lbs Lord George Bentinck 20/1
9 HEMP J Marson 5-7st 12lb Sir R Bulkeley 20/1
This race took place on Thursday 30th July 1846 and was a subscription race of 20 guineas each. There were 53 subscribers, and it was valued at 300 sovereigns (equivalent to £39,000 in 2021). Over round 112%