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 1939 Listed race 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 ROSE OF ENGLAND colt T Lowrey B Jarvis Lord Glanely 5/4 fav
2 ENGAGED B Carslake C Peck Mr J B Joel 13/2
3 CONGRATULATIONS E Smith McVittie Sir V Sassoon 9/2
4 VOYAGER J Crouch W Jarvis HM The King 33/1
5 CHICO T Burns R Dawson Mr W Barnett 100/6
6 LADY ABBESS colt H Wragg O Bell Sir H Cunliffe-Owen 33/1
7 LIBERTY MAN A Richardson Dines Mr Dand 33/1
8 MORADABAD C Smirke Butters HH Aga Khan 3/1
9 MAGIC MOUNT E Benneyworth P Allden Mr Middlemas 33/1
10 FAIR WIND G Richards F Darling Mr H Morriss 33/1
11 MEDLEY R A Jones F S Butters Lord Portal 100/7
12 GOLD & GAY F Herbert N Cannon Mr J V Rank 33/1
13 MAUTHE G Bezant F Pratt Mr J De Rothschild 33/1
14 CLEMORA colt E C Elliott S Donoghue Mr Cozzika 33/1
This race took place on Wednesday 14th June 1939 and was won by a bay colt by Colombo out of Rose of England, winning a first prize of £2105 (equivalent to £141,000 in 2020). Over round 139%
Chesham Stakes Listed race 7 furlongs 1919 (1848)
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