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 1904 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer/Age/weight Owner
1 CSARDAR G McCall Joe Cannon 5-7st 6lbs Mr Keswick 10/1
2 HAZAFI Lewis C Waugh 5-8st 2lbs M E de Blaskovits 40/1
3 WILD OATS Kempton Cannon H Sadler 4-8st 2lbs Mr L Brassey 5/1 fav
4 ROBERT LE DIABLE W Lane Grensel 5-9st 0lbs Lord Carnarvon 9/1
5 COSSACK Danny Maher Blackwell 6-8st 13lbs Sir J Miller 100/8
6 UNION JACK Randall Martin Gurry 4-8st 12lbs Mr F Taylor 25/1
7 DUMBARTON CASTLE Otto Madden J Powney 4-8st 8lbs Mr G A Prentice 33/1
8 SPECULATOR W Halsey Fred Day 5-8st 8lbs Mr Ernest Cassel 20/1
9 DUKE OF WESTMINSTER Morny Cannon Sam Darling 5-8st 8lbs Mr George Faber 20/1
10 SIMONY Herbert Jones Goodwin 5-8st 4lbs Duke of Devonshire 50/1
11 OVER NORTON H Aylin Lowe aged-8st 2lbs Mr E C Irish 40/1
12 OUR LASSIE J Watts Morton 4-8st 0lbs Mr J B Joel 66/1
13 KILGLASS T L Miller Major Beatty 4-8st 0lbs Lord Howard De Walden 10/1
14 NOBLESSE J Miller W Nightingall 5-7st 12lbs Mr W G Langland 66/1
15 NIPHETOS W Saxby Sam Darling 5-7st 4lbs Mr Lionel Robinson 100/6
16 JOHN PEEL C Trigg G Edwards 4-7st 7lbs Sir John Thursby 66/1
17 LANCASHIRE E Wheathley Major Edwards 3-7st 5lbs Mr J Buchanan 40/1
18 QUEEN'S HOLLIDAY Kerridge Fallon 3-6st 13lbs Captain Forester 100/1
19 ST LUKE Murray Rankin (Private) 5-6st 10lbs Mr W Rankin 33/1
20 SUN ROSE J Plant Joseph Butters 4-6st 11lbs Miss Clinton 50/1
21 MARSDEN Butchers Alf Sadler jnr 3-6st 10lbs Mr Alf Stedall 50/1
22 THE SCRIBE A Sharples John Porter 3-6st 10lbs Duke of Portland 50/1
23 JOLLY BIRD Rollason Alec Taylor 3-6st 9lbs Mr Washington Singer 66/1
24 CATGUT J East Alfred Hayhoe 3-6st 9lbs Leopold De Rothschild 25/1
25 CADES Jack Jarvis William A Jarvis 3-6st 7lbs Mr William A Jarvis 30/1
26 MELAYR W Griggs Robinson 3-6st 1lb Mr James M Keene 20/1
27 CHERRY AGNES G Pearson Sherrard 3-5st 9lbs Colonel H T Fenwick 100/1
28 CHAPEAU F Hunter Alfred Hayhoe 3 -6st 0lbs Leopold De Rothschild 50/1
This race took place on Wednesday 15th June 1904 and was won by a bay colt by Ladas out of Polka, winning a first prize of 2620 sovereigns (equivalent to £326,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 500 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. Over round 113%
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
1900 1901 1902 1903 1904