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 1871 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 VALUER G Jarvis William Day 6-6st 6lbs Mr William Day 11/2
2 PRIME MINISTER colt T Osborne Alec Taylor 3-5st 10lbs Lord Ailesbury 10/1
3 JACK SPIGOT Tom Chaloner Dover 3-8st 5lbs Mr J Parry 100/7
4 NORMANBY Cannon Joseph Dawson 4-8st 4lbs Lord Stamford 100/7
5 VENDURE Maidment Thomas Carter 3-8st 1lbs Mr M H Delamarre 33/1
6 PATE W Webb P Price 4-8st 0lbs Mr J Moffatt 100/1
7 SHANNON Hunt Elliott 3-7st 12lbs Mr F Mouncey 50/1
8 RECORDER Wyatt Cowley 4-7st 13lbs Mr E Brayley 100/1
9 MISS SHEPPARD Huxtable Kellow 4-7st 10lbs Mr E Polter 100/1
10 ALLBROOK Mould William Day 5-7st 9lbs Sir F Johnstone 100/1
11 BAREFOOT Fox Thomas 3-7st 8lbs Mr W A Baker 100/1
12 THE KNIGHT Wilson Tom Jennings 3-7st 4lbs Mr T Lombard 100/1
13 GLAUCUS Fred Webb Joseph Dawson 3-7st 4lbs Mr Crawley 25/1
14 DUBOIS Vidier W Goater 4-7st 2lbs Lord Charlemont 100/1
15 CHARTREUSE Everett Goodwin 4-6st 11lbs Mr J Dixon 100/1
16 CHEVREUSE W Gray W Goodwin 4-6st 11lbs Mr W Goodwin 4/1 fav
17 GOPSALL H Covey John Day 3-6st 11lbs Lord Anglesey 10/1
18 FINISTERRE Handley C Pratt 4-6st 10lbs Major Fridolin 20/1
19 MABILLE Skelton Gilbert 3-6st 2lbs Mr H Savile 66/1
20 MAID OF ATHOL Cosby William Day 4-6st 2lbs Sir F Johnstone 100/1
21 ALDERLEY Norris Ambery (Private) 4-6st 2lbs Mr Ambery 20/1
22 KING MOB Chapman John Dawson 3-6st 0lbs Prince Batthyany 100/1
23 BOTHERATION Ashworth Wadlow 3-6st 0lbs Mr Pryor 100/1
24 ACIDE PRUSSIQUE Wheeler Pryor 3-6st 0lbs Baron Schickler 50/1
25 PITCHFORK Newhouse William Day 3-5st 13lbs Lord Rivers 20/1
26 MARMORA Fred Archer Mathew Dawson 3-5st 7lbs Mr R C Naylor 100/6
27 REFORM Constable Sherwood 3-5st 7lbs Mr C Head 10/1
28 CONTRABAND Hammond Barclay (Private) 3-5st 7lbs Mr A C Barclay 100/1
29 THORMANBY filly Macksey Robert Peck 3-5st 7lbs Mr James Merry 25/1
This race took place on Wednesday 7th June 1871 and was won by a brown gelding by St Albans out of Valuation, winning a first prize of 1100 sovereigns from 81 subscriptions (equivalent to £131,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. Over round 126%
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 1869
1870 1871