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 1909 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer/Age/weight Owner
1 DARK RONALD W Williams Clement 4-7st 2lbs Mr Abe Bailey 4/1 fav
2 ARRANMORE Wal Griggs Charles Peck 4-8st 0lbs Mr Solly Joel 40/1
3 CHRISTMAS DAISY H East Lewis 4-6st 3lbs Mr J H H Peard 20/1
4 HAYDEN Steve Donoghue Atty Persse 5-7st 4lbs Mr A S F Basset 50/1
5 ROCKBOURNE E Piper Sherrard 5-7st 2lbs Colonel H T Fenwick 40/1
6 GALVANI Bernard Dillon Peter Gilpin 5-8st 10lbs Major Eustace Loder 7/1
7 LAND LEAGUE W Higgs Sherwood jnr 6-8st 8lbs Captain J G E Homfray 6/1
8 SUCCOUR Will Griggs Captain Dewhurst 6-8st 7lbs Captain Kinnaid Smith 100/8
9 SIR MARTIN B Lynham Joe Cannon 3-8st 7lbs Mr L Winane 10/1
10 PERSEUS III J H Martin Joyner 3-7st 13lbs Mr H P Whitney 100/7
11 ROYAL REALM T Price Ferguson 4-7st 8lbs Mr W Hall Walker 40/1
12 TEMERAIRE C Heckford H Darling 4-7st 7lbs Mr J Buchanan 50/1
13 SYMONS PRIDE F Templeman Captain Dewhurst 3-7st 4lbs Mr W R Nelson 50/1
14 THE WHIRLPOOL F Wootton Brewer 3-7st 4lbs Mr William Clarke 25/1
15 BILLY THE VERGER S Jones Rooney 5-7st 4lbs Mr R B Dobell 20/1
16 ELMSTEAD F Fox Morton 4-7st 4lbs Mr J B Joel 25/1
17 ELECTRIC BOY J Plant Peebles 3-7st 4lbs Mr A H Ledlie 20/1
18 DUKE OF SPARTA J Howard Alf Sadler jnr 5-7st 3lbs Mr A C Mandara 20/1
19 VAMOSE W Earl W Waugh 4-7st 3lbs Lord Ebury 25/1
20 SLOW LEOPARD J McDermott F Pratt 5-6st 11lbs Mr J A De Rothschild 50/1
21 SIMONSON C Ringstead Walter Nightingall 6-6st 10lbs Mr Alf Stedall 50/1
22 ORQUIL A Flanagan Alf Sadler jnr 4-6st 6lbs Mr Alf Stedall 50/1
23 PROMONTORY J Evans Sanderson jnr 3-6st 0lbs Mr J W Larnach 100/1
This race took place on Wednesday 16th June 1909 and was won by a bay colt by Bay Ronald out of Darkie, 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 118%
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 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909