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 1899 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 REFRACTOR Weatherell James Waugh 3-6st 3lbs Mr D J Jardine 25/1
2 EAGER Morny Cannon Jimmy Ryan 5-9st 4lbs Mr Fairie 100/30 fav
3 KNIGHT OF THISTLE Tod Sloan Huggins 6-9st 2lbs Lord W Beresford 10/1
4 ARGOSY Allsopp C Beatty 4-7st 6lbs Mr H McCalmont 100/8
5 GENERAL PEACE Otto Madden J Powney 5-8st 7lbs Captain Bewicke 100/14
6 GOLDEN BRIDGE Tommy Loates Watson 4-8st 4lbs Leopold De Rothschild 100/6
7 NUN NICER E Martin W Waugh 4-8st 1lbs Sir J Blundell Maple 100/7
8 SIRENIA Chapman Clarkson 4-7st 8lbs Mr L Neumann 20/1
9 ALT MARK S Loates George Lambton 5-7st 6lbs Lord Derby 20/1
10 MOUNT PROSPECT H Luke jnr Robinson 3-6st 13lbs Mr Abe Bailey 100/12
11 FOOTPAD II Segrott Tom Jennings jnr 3-6st 13lbs Captain Laing 25/1
12 BALDOYLE Lynham Richard Marsh 3-6st 10lbs Duke of Devonshire 33/1
13 STRIKE-A-LIGHT G Sanderson Richard Marsh 3-6st 8lbs Mr W Brodrick-Cleote 20/1
14 FLAMBARD C Purkis C Wood 3-6st 8lbs Lord Rosebery 9/1
15 MUSETTA Heapy Sam Pickering 3-6st 7lbs Marquis Di Serramezzana 25/1
16 SIMONSIDE Dalton George Chaloner 3-6st 7lbs Lord Carnarvon 100/6
This race took place on Wednesday 14th June 1899 and was won by a horse by Prism, winning a first prize of 3060 sovereigns from 78 subscriptions (equivalent to £398,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 500 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 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879
1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889
1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899