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 1861 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 BUCCANEER Jem Goater 4-8st 7lbs Lord Portsmouth 4/1 fav
2 PRETENDANT George Fordham 4-8st 5lbs Baron Niviere 100/8
3 BARON MUNCHAUSEN W Bottom 4-6st 13lbs Lord Chesterfield 25/1
4 LAVA Roper 6-8st 7lbs Lord Stamford 100/6
5 AMSTERDAM John Wells 6-8st 12lbs Mr S Jacobs 50/1
6 COSMOPOLITAN Aldcroft 6-8st 10lbs Baron Niviere 33/1
7 CHERE ANNIE John Osborne 4-8st 5lbs Mr R C Naylor 50/1
8 MAN AT ARMS Perry 4-8st 0lbs Mr Sutton 50/1
9 FRAVOLA Page 4-7st 10lbs Mr H Hall 33/1
10 GIBRALTAR J Mann 4-7st 10lbs Captain D Lane 50/1
11 MAINSTONE Prangle 4-7st 9lbs Lord Palmerston 50/1
12 LUSTRE Gardner 5-7st 9lbs Mr Logan 50/1
13 HORRACE Bullock 4-7st 7lbs Mr H Hargreaves 100/8
14 SIR HUGH Martin 4-7st 4lbs Lord W Powlett 100/6
15 WING W Bradley 3-7st 0lbs Baron Rothschild 50/1
16 TOUCH ME NOT J Snowden 3-7st 0lbs Mr Thomas 20/1
17 SCRUBBING BRUSH Challoner 3-6st 13lbs Mr T Valentine 50/1
18 NUTBUSH Clement 3-6st 12lbs Mr Hawkesley 50/1
19 MOORHEN J Adams 4-6st 11lbs Sir Joseph Hawley 100/7
20 VOLTELLA Drew 3-6st 11lbs Mr John Payne 100/7
21 SUBURBAN H Bradley 4-6st 10lbs Count Batthyany 100/7
22 GABRIELLE D'ESTREES H Grimshaw 3-6st 11lbs Count F de Lagrange 50/1
23 BUMBLE BEE Woodhouse 5-6st 3lbs Count Pack Beresford 50/1
24 CHEESECAKE Whiteley 4-6st 9lbs Captain Christie 25/1
25 CONQUEROR Pearson 3-6st 8lbs Sir C Rushout 50/1
26 STRUGGLER Taylor 3-6st 5lbs Lord Strathmore 50/1
27 ELCHO Daley 3-6st 3lbs Lord Coventry 20/1
28 SNAPSHOT Davis 3-6st 0lbs Sir H Des Voeux 50/1
29 ORION Bradford 3-5st 13lbs Lord Coventry 50/1
30 EAST SHEEN T French 3-5st 10lbs Duke of Beaufort 50/1
31 CHRIEMHILDE J Plumb 3-5st 7lbs Mr W Hope 50/1
32 FRAILTY Parsons 3-5st 7lbs Lord Ailesbury 50/1
33 LITTLE DRUMMER Midgley 3-5st 7lbs Mr G Lambert 7/1
This race took place on Wednesday 12th June 1861 and was won by a bay colt by Wild Dayrell out of a Little Red Rover mare, winning a first prize of 1210 sovereigns from 91 subscriptions (equivalent to £145,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. Over round 141%

I am grateful to David Copland for the item shown below:-
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