Goodwood Stakes

The Goodwood Stakes (Handicap) is the second oldest race still staged at the Glorious Goodwood Festival having first been run in 1823 in its current format. However, some might claim that it is the oldest race, since a Goodwood Stakes over 2 miles was staged at the 1811 meeting, a year before the inaugural running of the present day Goodwood Cup, while others would assert that a Goodwood Silver Cup was first held in 1808. It is a handicap for 3-year-olds and above over 2miles 5 furlongs, although it has fluctuated between 2 miles 5 furlongs and 2 miles throughout its history, and is currently contested over 2 miles 4 furlongs and 134 yards, making it a wonderful spectacle for the crowd, as it starts in front of the stands and is the longest presently run at the Festival.
Early history:-The inaugural running of the Goodwood Stakes was on Tuesday 12th August 1823 when the Duke of Richmond's Dandizette defeated Lord Egremont's Young Gohanna colt, although on the same card the Old Goodwood Club Stakes saw Lord Egremont’s Elfrid beat Mr C Day's Victorine.

Goodwood Stakes 1824 Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 VITELLINA J Barrett 3-5st 8lbs Lord Verulam 3/1
2 DANDIZETTE F Boyce 4-7st 8lbs Duke of Richmond 4/6 fav
3 GHOST Jem Robinson 3-5st 8lbs Mr Poyntz (Lord Exeter) 4/1
This race took place on Thursday 19th August 1824 and was a subscription race of 20 sovereigns each. There were 3 subscribers and it was valued at 100 guineas (equivalent to £8,500 in 2021). The result was a travesty of justice because the Judge, Newmarket based Mr Charles Greville, saw Ghost lean on Vitellina on the far side of the course, although Vitellina prevailed, however the Judge had missed the Duke of Richmond's Dandizette pass the post first by 3 lengths on the near side of the course and mistakenly announced that Vitellina had won. Lord Verulam, being the perfect gentleman, offered the stakes to the Duke of Richmond, but he declined, stating the word of the Judge was final. Over round 105%