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 1838 Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 LOUTHERBOURG Wakefield 4-7st 1lbs Mr Theobald 10/1
2 ST LUKE S Mann 5-8st 7lbs Lord Suffield 7/1
3 HERON Sam Darling 5-8st 5lbs Mr Fowler 8/1
4 VALENTISSIMO J Chapple 6-9st 0lbs Sir George Heathcote 6/1
5 PICKWICK Nat Flatman 4-7st 12lbs Mr Rush 20/1
6 TOOTHILL Arthur Pavis 5-8st 3lbs Captain Gardnor 20/1
7 MARQUIS Butler 4-7st 8lbs Mr Dockeray 20/1
8 MAHOMETAN S Rogers 4-7st 7lbs Mr George Osbaldeston 5/2 fav
9 MAGNOLIA Crouch 4-6st 11lbs Mr Shackel 15/1
10 HAHNEMAN Cotton 3-5st 10lbs Lord Suffield 20/1
11 TRANBY Colt Percy 3-5st 4lbs Mr King 12/1
This race took place on Wednesday 1st August 1838 and was a subscription race of 25 sovereigns each. There were 117 subscribers and it was valued at 300 guineas (equivalent to £42,000 in 2021) Over round 107%