Royal Ascot: Royal Hunt Cup

The Royal Hunt Cup was established in 1843, originally contested on a right-handed course over 7 furlongs and 166 yards, although the race's distance was shortened to 7 furlongs and 155 yards in 1930, but was then extended to its present length in 1956. It is now run on a straight course on the second day of the Royal meeting, and usually features a large field. It is one of three perpetual trophies at the meeting, along with the Gold Cup and the Queen's Vase, which can be kept permanently by the winning owners.
Early history:- The inaugural running took place on Wednesday 14th June 1843 when won by Lord Chesterfield's Knight of the Whistle (5/1), with a triple dead-heat for second between Lord Milltown's Bourra Tomacha (20/1), Mr Balchin's Epaulette (20/1) and Colonel Peel's Garry Owen (12/1).
Royal Hunt Cup 1845 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 EVENUS S Mann 5-8st 0lbs Lord Stradbroke 10/1
2 MONGREL Alfred Day 3-5st 7lbs Mr Thompson 33/1
3 QUEEN MAB Nat Flatman 6-9st 0lbs Mr John Payne 8/1
4 SIR FRANCIS W Abdale 3-6st 6lbs Mr John Payne 33/1
5 KNIGHT OF THE WHISTLE F Butler aged-9st 7lbs Lord Chesterfield 20/1
6 GORHAMBURY Tant 5-9st 7lbs Mr Davis 33/1
7 SEMISERIA John Day junior 5-8st 12lbs Mr Jacques 5/1 fav
8 THE EMPEROR Whitehouse 4-8st 11lbs Lord Albemarle 33/1
9 INHERITRESS T Lye 5-8st 4lbs Mr Meiklam 10/1
10 ANTLER Sly 4-8st 4lbs Mr Herbert 33/1
11 KHORASSAN Jem Chapple 5-8st 2lbs Mr Howe 10/1
12 CARILLION W Cotton 5-8st 2lbs Mr Cooke 33/1
13 LOTHARIO H Bell 5-8st 9lbs Duke of Richmond 33/1
14 MISDEAL Wakefield 6-8st 0lbs Mr Death 33/1
15 QUEEN OF THE GIPSIES Crouch 5-8st 0lbs Mr G Ongley 33/1
16 EXAMPLE R Cotton 4-7st 13lbs Mr Worley 33/1
17 A-LA-MODE Marlow 4-7st 12lbs Mr Mostyn 16/1
18 YARDLEY Denman 5-7st 8lbs Lord Warwick 33/1
19 BEAUMONT W Howlett 4-7st 6lbs Mr A W Hill 33/1
20 PERGULARIA R Pettit 4-7st 3lbs Count Batthyany 33/1
21 ARTFUL DODGER J Howlett 6-7st 2lbs Mr King 33/1
22 COCKFIGHTER Arthur 4-6st 12lbs Lord Chesterfield 8/1
23 ELEMI Esling 4-6st 8lbs Lord Rosslyn 33/1
24 SAMBO Wheeler 4-6st 6lbs Baron Rothschild 33/1
25 CABIN-BOY T Day 3-6st 4lbs Mr Lintott 33/1
26 KING COB A May 3-6st 3lbs Colonel J Peel 33/1
27 HERNE THE HUNTER Brown junior 4-6st 0lbs Mr Brooke 33/1
28 REMORSE Pigot 3-5st 12lbs Mr Forth 33/1
29 ARTHUR Staples 3-5st 12lbs Mr Copeland 33/1
30 LITTLE JACK Tasker 3-5st 7lbs Mr Mack 33/1
This race took place on Wednesday 11th June 1845 and was won by a bay horse by Alpheus out of Marpessa, winning a first prize of 640 sovereigns from 54 subscriptions (equivalent to £78,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. Over round 142%
Royal Hunt Cup Handicap 1 mile 1843
      1843 1844 1845