The Stewards’ Cup, fourth oldest race at the Glorious Goodwood meeting, is a handicap over 6 furlongs and is traditionally held on the final day of the 5-day meeting, although up to 1992 it was staged on the opening day. In 1833 one of the Senior Stewards at the meeting was given the honour of choosing any race at the meeting to present an annual Stewards trophy, occasionally selecting a sprint race of 6 furlongs, but from time to time a race up to 1 mile 4 furlongs was selected. Then, in 1839, Lord George Bentinck, later appointed Senior Steward to the Jockey Club in July 1845, suggested that the Stewards’ Cup should be perpetually run over 6 furlongs, and the inaugural race was held in 1840.
Early history:-The inaugural running of the Stewards' Cup was on Friday 31st July 1840 when Mr Bowes’s 6-year-old chestnut Epirus beat Mus and Euclid.