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 1857 Handicap 2 miles 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 LEAMINGTON Aldcroft 4-8st 6lbs Mr F Higgins 100/3
2 GUNBOAT Prior 3-6st 7lbs Mr Hawkins 25/1
3 SOMERSET Snowden 3-6st 4lbs Mr Grafton 100/3
4 HARTLEY BUCK George Fordham 5-6st 2lbs Mr M Dennett 50/1
5 FISHERMAN Wells 4-8st 12lbs Mr Starky 11/2 fav
6 PRETTY BOY John Osborne 4-8st 8lbs Mr Barber 100/7
7 ALEPPO Nat Flatman 4-8st 1lbs Captain White 20/1
8 SLUGGARD Munday 5-7st 8lbs Mr T Cliff 25/1
9 VAN DUNCK Charlton 4-7st 8lb Mr T Parr 100/6
10 POTOCKI Plumb 3-7st 1lbs Mr Lupin 25/1
11 HOMILY Bray 5-7st 1lbs Lord Clifden 100/7
12 THE BIRD IN THE HAND Cresswell 3-6st 10lbs Mr Bowes 6/1
13 MARTINET Bullock 3-6st 9lbs Lord W Powlett 10/1
14 BARFLEUR Hughes 4-6st 9lbs Captain Lane 9/1
15 BIRDCATCHER Colt Challoner 4-6st 5lbs Lord Glasgow 50/1
16 ELOQUENCE Rayner 4-6st 5lbs Duke of Bedford 50/1
17 ROSATI Dales 4-6st 5lbs Mr Greville 20/1
18 PALADIN Perry 3-5st 12lbs Mr Lupin 50/1
19 HOBGOBLIN Deer 3-4st 7lbs Sir C W Codrington 6/1
This race took place on Wednesday 29th July 1857 and was a subscription race of 25 sovereigns each. There were 96 subscribers and it was valued at 300 guineas (equivalent to £36,000 in 2021) Over round 118%