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 1994 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 FACE NORTH Alan Munro Reg Akehurst Normandy Developments 25/1
2 LOWER EGYPT Frankie Dettori John Gosden Spinal Injuries Association 14/1
3 SHARP REVIEW Mick Kinane Dermot Weld J Rooney 14/1
4 REALITIES Jason Weaver Guy Harwood Roy Taiano 20/1
5 KAYEE Alan Clark Guy Harwood J H Richmond-Watson 25/1
6 PALACE PAGEANT Cash Asmussen Ian Balding Paul Mellon 20/1
7 KASSBAAN Richard Hills Alec Scott Godolphin 40/1
8 PHILIDOR Ray Cochrane James Eustace Jeff Smith 12/1
9 JUST YOU DARE Michael Roberts Martin Pipe Cheveley Park Stud 16/1
10 GYMCRACK PREMIERE Kieron Fallon Guy Holmes Gymcrack Thoroughbred Racing 25/1
11 FAWRAN Gary Hind John Gosden Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum 9/1
12 BEAUCHAMP HERO Gary Carter John Dunlop E Penser 14/1
13 EMBANKMENT Billy Newnes Richard Hannon Lady Tennant 20/1
14 ROYAL SEATON John Williams Brad Millman Axminster Carpets Ltd 25/1
15 WANDERING THOUGHTS Johnny Murtagh Aidan O'Brien William Mythen 25/1
16 LAP OF LUXURY Michael Tebbutt William Jarvis I C Hill-Wood 50/1
17 NASHVILLE BLUES Michael Hills Charlie Hills Mrs S Bosher 20/1
18 STAR MANAGER Richard Quinn Paul Cole John Purcell 33/1
19 CASTEL ROSSELO Alan Mackay Gay Kelleway Ray J Dawson 16/1
20 RUSTIC CRAFT Brett Doyle David Elsworth Miss Laura Shally 50/1
21 ABSOLUTE MAGIC Brent Thomson William Haggas Mrs Barbara Bassett 33/1
22 CHADDLEWORTH John Reid Peter Chapple-Hyam Robert Sangster 33/1
23 EN ATTENDANT Lester Piggott Ben Hanbury Mrs B Newton 33/1
24 SHOW FAITH Pat Eddery Richard Hannon I A N Wight 14/1
25 BAND ON THE RUN Seb Sanders Brian McMahon D J Allen 33/1
26 CHICKAWICKA John Carroll Brad Millman Merthyr Motor Auctions 40/1
27 COLOUR SERGEANT David Harrison Lord Huntingdon P A Leonard 33/1
28 BEWARE OF AGENTS Tyrone Williams Mark Johnson Brian Yeardley Continental 50/1
29 FOREVER DIAMONDS Mark Birch Mick Easterby Mrs J B Russell 25/1
30 DAHYAH Walter Swinburn Sir Michael Stoute Maktoum Al Maktoum 8/1
31 HE'S A KING Willie Carson John Dunlop Jill Emery & Partners 16/1
32 SAIFAN Stephen Davies D Morris D Morris 40/1
This race took place on Wednesday 15th June 1994 when an impressive field of 32 runners went to post, and was won by Face North, a bay gelding by Faynuz out of Pink Fondant in 1 minute 41.46 secs, winning a first prize of £52,621 (equivalent to £105,000 in 2020), beating Lower Egypt and Sharp Review by 1/2 length and a head. Over round 147%

PETER GREAVES
Peter Greaves was a remarkable person who was struck down with MS in the mid-1980s, but never complained about his condition and instead channelled his passion for racing and horses on a crusade to improve disabled facilities at racecourses. The result was the publication of his Disabled Racegoers Guide and he travelled far and wide to racecourses over 34 years as part of this campaign. He then became the Racing Manager of the SIA (Spinal Injuries Association), and got horses leased to the charity to raise funds, one of which was Lower Egypt, leased from Hamdan Al Maktoum, which won twice at York, came 2nd in the 1994 Royal Hunt Cup, and earned over £30,000 for the charity. The photo opposite shows Pete being interviewed on TV after Lower Egypt's win at York. Pete had been in poor health for some time, and although he lost his battle for life on Wednesday 4th November 2020, he won his personal war to ensure that disabled racegoers were appropriately catered for at all UK racecourses.
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
1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994