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 1868 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 SATYR J Adams John Porter 3-8st 1lbs Sir Joseph Hawley 10/1
2 EASTLEY Butler H Goater 3-5st 12lbs Sir F Johnstone 5/4 fav
3 MASTER WILLIE Kenyon Cliff 4-7st 7lbs Lord Westmorland 7/1
4 NEMEA Grimshaw Tom Jennings 4-8st 5lbs Count F De Lagrange 200/1
5 MR PITT Morris Ducker 5-8st 0lbs Mr T Clayton 100/1
6 MONARCH OF THE GLEN Tom Chaloner Weaver 5-7st 13lbs Mr R C Naylor 200/1
7 REINDEER Maidment Gilbert aged-7st 4lbs Mr H Savile 33/1
8 DUCHESS Prangle Haines 4-7st 2lbs Mr W Edgar 200/1
9 LADY HIGHTHORN Peppler Weaver 3-7st 0lbs Mr R C Naylor 50/1
10 FAKIR Bunyard John Porter 4-6st 13lbs Sir Joseph Hawley 40/1
11 NYANZA Cradock Joseph Hayhoe 3-6st 10lbs Baron Rothschild 25/1
12 BIRD ON THE WING brother Jeffrey Joseph Dawson 3-6st 9lbs Lord Glasgow 16/1
13 ROMULUS colt Hammond Wadlow 4-6st 8lbs Lord Wilton 20/1
14 THE DEAN Cameron Tom Dawson 4-8st 8lbs Mr J Johnstone 33/1
15 SLANDERER Mordan Joseph Hayhoe jnr 3-6st 7lbs Mr E C Clayton 15/1
16 AJAX Butters Fleming (Private) 3-6st 2lbs Mr G Fleming 200/1
17 SNOWDROP Milne Goodwin 3-6st 1lbs Mr J Dixon 1000/30
18 PRESIDENT LINCOLN Wyatt Alec Taylor 3-5st 11lbs Mr Payne 25/1
19 WARRINGTON Barnard Robert Peck 3-5st 10lbs Lord Stamford 40/1
20 MARQUIS OF CARABAS Wilson Joseph Dawson 3-5st 9lbs Count Batthyany 16/1
21 CASSE TETE Hunt Mathew Dawson 3-5st 7lbs Duke of Newcastle 66/1
This race took place on Wednesday 10th June 1868 and was won by a chestnut colt by Marysas out of Diomedia, winning a first prize of 860 sovereigns from 66 subscriptions (equivalent to £98,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. Over round 115%
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 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868