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 1931 Handicap 2 miles 3 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 NOBLE STAR F Fox Cundell 4-8st 11lbs Mr F Cundell 4/1 fav
2 CASTLEDERG Gordon Richards Whitelaw Mrs Whitelaw 10/1
3 BLUE VISION S Donoghue Ivor Anthony Mr M Evans 85/20
4 ARCTIC STAR Dick Perryman Walter Nightingall Lady Curzon of Kedleston 100/7
5 JUGO M Beary Walter Nightingall Mr T Richards 20/1
6 WEST WICKLOW T Weston George Lambton Lord Derby 100/8
7 CACAO R Dick Molony Mr R S Clark 10/1
8 JOYOUS GREETING Harry Wragg Sneyd Major H E Lyons 100/8
9 STOLEN FLAME T Lowrey Harvey Leader Sir Warden Chilcott 10/1
10 FORUM II Billy Nevett Sneyd Mr J J Murphy 100/8
11 ADVANCER J Sirett Gwilt Mr F W Wilmot 100/8
12 ROI DES AULNES J Dines Reg Day Mr T Davidson 7/1
13 MEDARLIN F Sharpe Scobie Sir Charles Hyde 33/1
14 SUMMER PRINCESS A Smirke Barclay Mr C Gulliver 33/1
This race took place on Wednesday 29th July 1931 and was a subscription race of 10 sovereigns each. It was valued at £1000 (equivalent to £130,000 in 2021) Over round 126%