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 1873 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 WINSLOW George Fordham Drewitt 4-8st 9lbs Mr G Clive 25/1
2 REINE Newhouse Tom Jennings 4-7st 10lbs Mr M Lefevre 100/6
3 OXFORD MIXTURE Morbey Peter Price 3-6st 10lbs Mr Somerville 20/1
4 LABURNUM T French Joseph Hayhoe 4-8st 8lbs Baron Rothschild 20/1
5 HELMET Fred Webb Henry Woolcott 4-8st 3lbs Mr F Fisher 8/1
6 SOUCAR Cannon Cowley 6-8st 2lbs Mr E Brayley 8/1
7 MOORLANDS Tom Chaloner Sadler 6-8st 2lbs Mr W Bevill 100/6
8 LILLIAN Maidment Gilbert 4-8st 0lbs Mr H Savile 20/1
9 MOZART Hopper Robert Peck 4-7st 7lbs Mr James Merry 25/1
10 THE DRUID Spencer Gosling 4-7st 6lbs Mr Grainger 50/1
11 COMO F Jeffery John Day 4-7st 5lbs Sir F Johnstone 50/1
12 ALAVA Huxtable John Porter 4-7st 5lbs Sir Joseph Hawley 25/1
13 THE PEARL Constable William L'Anson 5-7st 4lbs Mr W L'Anson 20/1
14 LORD CLIFDEN colt Loates Tom Brown 3-7st 2lbs Mr F Fisher 50/1
15 SILVESTER Chandler Mathew Dawson 4-6st 12lbs Mr D James 50/1
16 CHIVALROUS Major Perrin 3-6st 11lbs Mr Bowes 50/1
17 CATALPA J Prince Cannon 3-6st 10lbs Mr T E Walker 50/1
18 WOLFHALL Lowe Alec Taylor 4-6st 11lbs Lord Ailesbury 10/1
19 BARMSTON Ashworth Wadlow 5-6st 10lbs Lord Wilton 25/1
20 LORD GOUGH Charles Wood Joseph Dawson 4-6st 7lbs Mr R H Long 9/2 fav
21 ISLAM Mills Osborne aged-6st 5lbs Mr Milford 50/1
22 CORINTHUS C Archer Joseph Dawson 5-6st 4lbs Mr T V Mrogan 40/1
23 BRAE DE FER Elliott Bates 3-6st 3lbs Mr J Johnstone 40/1
24 MY LORD Brown John Ryan 3-6st 0lbs Mr J H Houldsworth 50/1
25 CARHOLME Fred Archer John Dawson 4-6st 0lbs Prince Batthyany 33/1
26 BOATMAN Glover William Goater 3-5st 10lbs Mr Spencer 40/1
27 THE BHOOTAN Orbell Gosling 4-5st 11lbs Mr Brooke 50/1
This race took place on Wednesday 11th June 1873 and was won by a bay gelding by Clifden out of Creslow, winning a first prize of 1030 sovereigns from 73 subscriptions (equivalent to £113,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. Over round 125%
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 1872 1873