Royal Ascot: Chesham Stakes (First Leg of First Triennial Stakes)

The Chesham Stakes, the opening race on the final day of the Royal meeting, is a Listed race over 7 furlongs for two-year-olds named after the 3rd Baron Chesham who served as Master of the Buckhounds in 1900-01. It was established in 1919, and it was originally contested over 5 furlongs, replacing the first leg of the Triennial Stakes which was first staged in 1848 when won by Elthiron. The race has an unusual restriction, being open only to horses sired by stallions who won over ten furlongs or more.  For a time the Chesham Stakes was contested over 6 furlongs, but was extended to 7 furlongs in 1996.
Early history:- The inaugural running of the first leg of the First Triennial Stakes over 5 furlongs, the forerunner of the Chesham Stakes, was on Tuesday 6th June 1848 when a field of 19 was headed by Elthiron, owned by Lord Eglinton, who beat Borneo and Jester by a head and the same. In 1919 the Triennial Stakes First leg was replaced by the Chesham Stakes and was run on Wednesday 18th June 1919 when Mr L Robinson's unnamed Decagone colt (7/4 fav) beat Fiddle de Dee and Pelope by 2 lengths and 3 lengths.

First Leg of First Triennial Stakes 1853 Listed race 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 BRIBERY Nat Flatman 2-8st 4lbs Lord Bruce 8/1
2 METEORA F Butler 2-8st 4lbs Mr J Scott 6/4 fav
3 GLENSTRAE W Day 2-8st 7lbs Mr Howard 7/4
4 WINKFIELD W Abdale 2-8st 7lbs Mr S Walker 20/1
5 FILIUS sister Alfred Day 2-8st 4lbs Sir R Pigot 20/1
6 LUDWIG Basham 2-8st 7lbs Mr Knowles 20/1
7 CALIBAN Norman 2-8st 7lbs Lord Exeter 20/1
8 TOUCHSTONE colt Charlton 2-8st 7lbs Mr George Osbaldeston 20/1
9 NAOMI Whitehouse 2-8st 4lbs Mr J Clark 20/1
10 PUNCH-BOX Dockeray 2-8st 7lbs Mr E R Clark 20/1
11 OXUS Charles Marlow 2-8st 7lbs Count Batthyany 20/1
This race took place on Wednesday 8th June 1853 and was won by a chestnut filly by The Libel out of Splitvote to win 530 sovereigns from 43 subscribers (equivalent to £68,000 in 2020).. Over round 127%
Chesham Stakes Listed race 7 furlongs 1919 (1848)
                1848 1849
1850 1851 1852 1853