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 1955 Handicap 2 miles 3 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 FRENCH DESIGN V Gardner Todd 4-8st 12lbs Mr S C Banks 9/1
2 CUNNINGHAM Bill Rickaby Jack Jarvis Lord Rosebery 6/1
3 THE BLACK HORSE Eph Smith Price Sir G Munro 100/7
4 LITTLE CLOUD Lester Piggott Murless Sir Victor Sassoon 4/1 fav
5 VANISHED AGE W Nevett Marsh Maj R MaDonald-Buchanan 11/2
6 KING CONKERS D Ryan W Payne Mr T Johnson 10/1
7 DINGO Doug Smith Day Mrs Rex A Cohen 100/8
8 ANGLO-IRANIAN Willie Snaith H Leader Lord W de Broke 100/7
9 WILDNOR G Gaston C Clarke Mr J Williams 100/7
10 ARCTIC SLAVE Scobie Breasley Cannon Mr J Olding 100/6
11 ICARIAN D Greening Nightingall Mr C Bell 20/1
12 MASTER BOB S Millbanks Feakes Mr P Clark 33/1
13 NEPTUNES QUEEN A Shrive Mercer Mr S Mercer 33/1
14 HILARION H Packham Wightman Mrs J Stephenson 33/1
15 HORSE SHOE J Sirett Henesy Mr H Hall 33/1
16 MORPHISE D W Morris Golightly Mrs J Lustgarten 33/1
17 KINGS COUNSELLOR Wally Swinburn Walwyn Mr H Henly 33/1
This race took place on Wednesday 27th July 1955 and was a subscription race of 10 sovereigns each. It was valued at £1500 (equivalent to £66,000 in 2021) Over round 126%