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 2003 Listed race 7 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 PEARL OF LOVE Darryll Holland Mark Johnston Mr M Doyle 11/10 fav
2 TYCOON Mick Kinane Aidan O'Brien Mrs John Magnier 4/1
3 MILK IT MICK Martin Dwyer Jamie Osborne Mr Paul J Dixon 8/1
4 GOLDEN SUN Jamie Spencer Mars J R Ramsden Mr J Musgrave 11/1
5 SKY GALAXY Frankie Dettori Ed Dunlop Saeed Maktoum Al Maktoum 12/1
6 BIG BRADFORD Eddie Ahern E L James Mr Adam Brackley 16/1
7 DANCING LYRA T Quinn John Hills Aidan Ryan Racing 50/1
8 PATTERDALE Keith Dalgleish Mark Johnston Mr & Mrs G Middlebrook 50/1
9 LUCKY PIPIT Michael Hills Barry Hills Maktoum Al Maktoum 40/1
10 DIVINE GIFT Pat Eddery Jeremy Noseda Mr B E Nielsen 16/1
11 RIO DE JUMEIRAH Philip Robinson Clive Brittain Abdulla Belhaab 33/1
12 UNRIVALLED Jimmy Fortune John Gosden Cheveley Park Stud 8/1
13 DESERT REIGN Kieren Fallon Alan Jarvis Mr Allen B Pope 25/1

This race took place on Wednesday 18th June 2003 and was won by a bay colt by Peintre Celebre out of Aunt Pearl, winning first prize of £26,100 (equivalent to £42,000 in 2020).

 Over round 131%
Chesham Stakes Listed race 7 furlongs 1919 (1848)
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