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 1859 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 KING AT ARMS Britton 3-7st 2lbs Colonel Pearson 50/1
2 SCHISM J Adams 3-6st 9lbs Mr W Day 25/1
3 MAGNUM Hibberd 3-6st 4lbs Baron Rothschild 20/1
4 LORD NELSON John Wells 5-9st 1lbs Sir Joseph Hawley 25/1
5 ZUYDER ZEE Ashmall 5-9st 1lbs Mr W S Crawfurd 50/1
6 TIARA Cresswell 4-8st 4lbs Mr F Higgins 50/1
7 MENTMORE John Osborne 4-8st 4lbs Baron Rothschild 50/1
8 GLENMASSON Alfred Day 5-8st 3lbs Mr J H C Wyndham 100/8
9 KESTREL George Fordham 6-8st 0lbs Captain Christie 8/1
10 BLACKTHORN French 4-7st 10lbs Mr Smith 50/1
11 STAR OF THE EAST Ryan 4-7st 6lbs Mr Bowes 50/1
12 BOTANY Mortimer 4-7st 4lbs Mr Douglas 50/1
13 ADAMAS L Snowden 5-7st 3lbs Mr J Bird 25/1
14 QUEEN OF THE SOUTH Clements 6-7st 0lbs Mr Howley 100/3
15 GILLIIVER W Bradly 5-7st 0lbs Sir Joseph Hawley 15/1
16 FLEET F Adams 3-6st 13lbs Mr W Towsey 50/1
17 LORD BERKELEY Hearnden 5-6st 12lbs Mr Shelley 20/1
18 SAM SPODE Robertson 4-6st 13lbs Mr J Doyle 9/2 fav
19 TWILIGHT Ploughman 3-6st 12lbs Mr Dennis 50/1
20 GLENBUCK Blackburn 3-6st 11lbs Captain Gray 50/1
21 GRACCHUS Constance 3-6st 10lbs Captain D W Pack Beresford 50/1
22 WRESTLER Swift 4-6st 11lbs Mr Mundy 100/7
23 ARIADNE Bray 3-6st 10lbs Mr F Robinson 100/6
24 HARRY STANLEY Drew 4-6st 8lbs Mr Greville 50/1
25 ARTLESS G Rayner 3-6st 7lbs Sir W Booth 50/1
26 TURRET Lewis 4-6st 6lbs Mr Maberley 50/1
27 PETRA Durdle 3-6st 5lbs Mr W Day 50/1
28 ORLEANS Johnson 3-6st 4lbs Mr Seymour 20/1
29 ARTIST H Bradley 3-6st 3lbs Mr Gulliver 50/1
30 LORD OF THE MANOR Dickenson 3-6st 3lbs Mr J Merry 50/1
31 MARSEILLAISE Taretta 3-6st 3lbs Lord Strathmore 50/1
32 WANDERER Alf Sadler 4-5st 10lbs Lord Coventry 50/1
33 MUTINEER G Mills 3-5st 10lbs Mr Hodgman 50/1
34 ELLER W Bottom 3-5st 5lbs Lord Londesborough 100/8
35 WOODBURN Daley 3-5st 0lbs Mr R Ten Broeck 25/1
This race took place on Wednesday 15th June 1859 and was won, after an initial dead-heat, by a bay colt by Lord of the Isles out of Paradigm, winning a first prize of 900 sovereigns from 60 subscriptions (equivalent to £114,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. Over round 138%
Royal Hunt Cup Handicap 1 mile 1843
      1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849
1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859