Royal Ascot: Gold Cup

The Ascot Gold Cup was established in 1807 in the presence of King George III and Queen Charlotte, and it was originally open to horses aged three or older. The inaugural winner, Master Jackey, was awarded prize money of 100 Guineas. The Gold Cup is now the first leg of Britain's Stayers' Triple Crown, alongside the Goodwood Cup and Doncaster Cup, with Double Trigger being the most recent winner of all 3 races in 1995. The Gold Cup is one of just 3 perpetual trophies at the Royal meeting, along with the Royal Hunt Cup and the Queen's Vase, which are kept permanently by the winning owners.
Early history:-The inaugural running of the Gold Cup was on Thursday 11th June 1807 when Mr Durand’s 3-year-old chestnut colt Master Jackey beat Hawk (3-y-o), Miss Coiner (6-y-o) and Sir Peregrine (4-y-o).
Gold Cup 1846 (Emperor's Plate) Group 1 2 miles 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 ALARM Nat Flatman Montgomery Dilly 4-8st 5lbs Mr Charles Greville 3/1 fav
2 JERICHO Bartholomew 4-8st 5lbs Lord Lonsdale 11/2
3 WOLF-DOG F Butler 4-8st 5lbs Lord Waterford 9/2
4 CORRANNA Job Marson aged-9st 3lbs Mr Moore 18/1
5 FORWARD Whitehouse 4-8st 5lbs Mr S H Godson 33/1
6 DON JOHN colt J Prince 3-6st 10lbs Mr Merry 25/1
7 INHERITRESS Simon Templeman 6-9st 3lbs Mr Meiklam 30/1
8 MENTOR H Bell 4-8st 5lbs Mr O'Brien 33/1
9 THE BARON G Edwards 4-8st 5lbs Mr E R Clark 8/1
10 MISS SARAH Charles Marlow 4-8st 2lbs Major Yarburgh 8/1
11 KESHONG W Boyce 4-8st 5lbs Mr Wigram 33/1
12 ORLANDO Jem Robinson 5-9st 0lbs Colonel J Peel 7/1
This race took place on Thursday 11th June 1846 starting at the half mile post on the New Mile, and going once round; the winner, a 4-year-old bay colt by Venison out of Southdown, won a 500 guineas trophy donated by the Empress of Russia + 23x20 gns subscribers (equivalent to £113,000 in 2020). Over round 114%
Gold Cup Group 1 2 miles 4 furlongs
              1807 1808 1809
1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819
1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829
1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839
1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846