Royal Ascot: Chesham Stakes (First Leg of First Biennial 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 Biennial Stakes 1860 Listed race 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 DIOPHANTUS A French Joseph Dawson 2-8st 7lbs Lord Stamford 7/2 fav
2 LUPUS Clement 2-8st 7lbs Mr T Parr 20/1
3 WING John Wells 2-8st 7lbs Baron Rothschild 8/1
4 COPERNICUS Charlton 2-8st 7lbs Mr John Payne 20/1
5 STOCKWELL filly L Snowden 2-8st 3lbs Lord Ailesbury 20/1
6 BRITISH PRINCE George Fordham 2-8st 7lbs Mr J Brown 20/1
7 SURPLICE colt John Osborne 2-8st 7lbs Lord Clifden 20/1
8 CANARY S Rogers 2-8st 7lbs Mr John Day 20/1
9 LETTY WEST Alfred Day 2-8st 5lbs Mr John Day 4/1
10 STARLIGHT Custance 2-8st 7lbs Mr J Merry 5/1
11 VOLITION J Walters 2-8st 3lbs Mr W Nelson 20/1
12 CAMERINO Jem Goater 2-8st 7lbs Mrs Osbaldeston 20/1
13 BRILLIANT Aldcroft 2-8st 7lbs Mr Riddell 20/1
14 SYCOPHANT Bullock 2-8st 7lbs Mr J Smith 20/1
This race, forerunner of the Chesham Stakes, took place on Tuesday 5th June 1860 and was won by a chestnut colt by Orlando out of Equation to win 500 sovereigns from 40 subscribers (equivalent to £61,000 in 2020). Over round 119%
Chesham Stakes Listed race 7 furlongs 1919 (1848)
                1848 1849
1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859
1860