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 1860 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 CRATER W Bottom J Woolcott 3-6st 13lbs Mr J Sargent 20/1
2 CHEESECAKE Challoner 3-6st 11lbs Captain Christie 25/1
3 COCK-A-HOOP George Fordham 4-8st 4lbs Mr R Ten Broeck 100/7
4 M. PHILLIPE John Wells 6-8st 7lbs Mr W S S Crawfurd 8/1
5 BEL ESPERANZA Custance 6-7st 12lbs Mr Nicholles 50/1
6 CANTINE L Snowden 4-7st 12lbs Lord Ailesbury 25/1
7 OLD ROBERT Hughes 4-7st 10lbs Mr Hodgman 7/1
8 MAN AT ARMS Perry 3-7st 7lbs Captain Little 50/1
9 HORACE Bullock 3-7st 7lbs Mr H Hargreaves 50/1
10 AMBUSH Gardiner 4-7st 3lbs Mr Fuller 50/1
11 TICKET OF LEAVE J Snowden 4-7st 3lbs Colonel Towneley 33/1
12 ETHIOPIAN Daley 5-7st 1lbs Mr Gratwicke 7/1
13 TOPAZ Page 3-7st 0lbs Mr Thornton 50/1
14 CHANOINE James 4-6st 13lbs Mr Newland 50/1
15 CECILIA Hayward 3-6st 9lbs Mr J Merry 50/1
16 CHIRP J Adams 3-6st 9lbs Mr Parker 25/1
17 QUEEN BEE Alf Sadler 3-6st 8lbs Mr Ekard 50/1
18 TYRANT A Edwards 3-6st 8lbs Lord Stamford 20/1
19 JASON Mitchell 3-6st 7lbs Baron Rothschild 25/1
20 THE MONK Veraby 3-6st 7lbs Mr Saxon 50/1
21 LUCY Whiteley 3-6st 4lbs Mr Lumley 50/1
22 CATAWBA W Bradley 3-6st 4lbs Sir Joseph Hawley 20/1
23 OPTIMIST Drew 3-6st 4lbs Mr R Ten Broeck 5/1 fav
24 WHITE ROSE H Grimshaw 3-6st 2lbs Mr Saxon 30/1
25 GENERAL HESS T French 3-6st 0lbs Captain Little 10/1
26 NARCISSUS Dickenson 3-6st 0lbs Lord Coventry 100/6
27 SUBURBAN H Bradley 3-6st 5lbs Count Batthyany 25/1
This race took place on Wednesday 6th June 1860 and was won by a bay colt by Orlando out of Vesuvienne, winning a first prize of 840 sovereigns from 64 subscriptions (equivalent to £103,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. Over round 134%
Royal Hunt Cup Handicap 1 mile 1843
      1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849
1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859
1860