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 1871 Group 1 2 miles 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 MORTEMER George Fordham Tom Jennings 6-9st 5lbs Mr T Lombard Evens fav
2 VERDURE Jeffery Thomas Carter jnr 3-7st 2lbs Mr H Delamarre 8/1
3 BOTHWELL W Gray Tom Dawson 3-7st 5lbs Mr J Johnstone 9/2
4 KINGCRAFT Lightfoot Mathew Dawson 4-8st 10lbs Lord Falmouth 20/1
5 GERTRUDE Tom Chaloner Mathew Dawson 4-8st 7lbs Lord Falmouth 20/1
6 SIDEROLITE John Wells John Porter 5-9st 3lbs Sir Joseph Hawley 7/1
7 AGILITY John Osborne John Osborne 4-8st 7lbs Mr Launde 7/1
This race took place on Thursday 8th June 1871 starting at the half mile post on the New Mile, and going once round; the winner, a 6-year-old chestnut horse by Compiegne out of Comtesse, won a 500 guineas gold trophy 30x20 gns subscribers (equivalent to £131,000 in 2020). Over round 113%
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 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