Royal Ascot: Chesham 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.
Chesham Stakes 1931 Listed race 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 GOLDEN HAIR colt R A Jones Lawson Mr Washington Singer 7/2
2 PHARACRE P Beasley Bruce Captain A S Wills 20/1
3 POLLOX R Perryman Watson Mr A De Rothschild 5/2 fav
4 WYVERN H Jelliss Jack Jarvis Sir L Philipps 10/1
5 THE SUD P Donoghue Cottrill Mrs S Whitburn 33/1
6 SORRENTO C Ray P Lowe Mr D M Grant 7/1
7 VILLAGE GREEN C Richards J Beary Mrs E Wallace 33/1
8 RIOT F Fox F Darling Mr J A Dewar 8/1
9 QUEEN OF THE SUIR J Childs Boyd-Rochfort Lt-Col R B Charteris 33/1
10 WELLINGTON G Richards Hogg Lord Glanely 10/1
11 COSPATRICK R Dick Molony Mr Z G Michalinos 100/8
12 PORTOFINO T Weston Lambton Lord Derby 100/8
13 ROOZ M Beary Ireland HH Aga Khan 20/1
14 BUCKLE F Lane C Leader Mr P Haldin 33/1
15 SABLE LADY S Wragg Holland Captain D Simson 33/1
16 SLAVIA H Beasley Atty Persse Mr J P Arkwright 100/8
17 AIRTIGHT H Wragg O Bell Sir H Cunliffe-Owen 33/1
18 SWINFEN colt S Donoghue Read Sir W Cooke 100/6
This race took place on Wednesday 17th June 1931 and was won by a chestnut colt by Gainsborough out of Golden Hair, winning a first prize of 660 sovereigns (equivalent to £35,000 in 2020). Over round 149%
Chesham Stakes Listed race 7 furlongs 1919 (1848)
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1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869
1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879
1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889
1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899
1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
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1930 1931