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 1889 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 WHITELEGS Blake Golding 4-6st 6lbs Mr D Henty 10/1
2 VERACITY Calder Weever 5-7st 12lbs Mr W J Legh 100/9
3 L'ABBESSE DE JOUARRE Jimmy Woodburn Sherwood 3-7st 2lbs Lord Randolph Churchill 100/9
4 FULLERTON John Watts Richard Marsh 6-9st 7lbs Lord Dudley 20/1
5 RINGMASTER Turner Savile (Private) aged-8st 3lbs Mr J E Savile 50/1
6 ZANZIBAR Morny Cannon Golding 4-7st 9lbs Mr H Milner 25/1
7 TOSCANO Fagan James Jewitt 4-7st 7lbs Lord Calthorpe 100/9
8 BULLION G Barrett Humphreys 4-7st 8lbs Mr W Smith 100/6
9 STRONVAR Tommy Loates Bates 4-7st 5lbs Sir R Jardine 20/1
10 LINK BOY R Adams Joe Cannon 3-7st 0lbs Mr T B Miller 20/1
11 DANBYDALE George Chaloner James Jewitt 4-6st 13lbs Lord Rodney 5/2 fav
12 AQUEBUS Mullen Alec Taylor 3-6st 12lbs Duke of Beaufort 33/1
13 MAMIA F Peake Tom Jenning jnr 5-6st 8lbs Mr Tom Jennings jnr 25/1
14 ROBIN HOOD Bradbury Penrhyn (Private) 3-6st 8lbs Lord Penrhyn 20/1
15 NETHERAVON J Wall Alec Taylor 4-6st 7lbs Mr J N Astley 33/1
This race took place on Wednesday 19th June 1889 and was won by a chesnut horse by Albert Victor out of Flora McIvor, winning a first prize of 1560 sovereigns from 53 subscriptions (equivalent to £202,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. The actual first prize was £1010. Over round 106%
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