Chesterfield Cup

The Chesterfield Cup, joint fifth oldest race at Glorious Goodwood, along with the Nassau Stakes, is a handicap over 1 mile 1 furlong and 192 yards and was first run in 1839 when known as the Harkaway Cup, and again in 1840 when mysteriously known as the Goodwood Cup of 1839. A year later it became known by the more suitable title of Chesterfield Cup, later adjusted to the Chesterfield Stakes. The race was named after the sixth Earl of Chesterfield, George Stanhope who won 2 Goodwood Cups with Priam who he purchased after the colt had landed the 1830 Epsom Derby. The race was part of the Glorious Goodwood programme up until 1969, then was replaced by the Laurels Handicap over roughly the same distance, but confined to older horses, with the Chesterfield Cup moved to the next meeting in August. The Cup was reintroduced to the Festival programme in 1979 on the last day, but in 1983 became a stalwart of the opening day of the Festival, albeit under a variety of names dependant on its sponsor.
Early history:-The inaugural running of the Chesterfield Cup, then known as the Harkaway Cup, was on Friday 2nd August 1839, was won by Lord Eglinton’s Bellona, beating Confusionee and The Corsair.
Chesterfield Cup 1845 Handicap 1 mile 1 furlong 192yds
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 AEGIS J Sharpe 3-6st 0lbs Mr W Etwall 10/1
2 NEEDFUL F Bell 4-7st 9lbs Mr Gratwicke 20/1
3 SEMISARIA F Butler 5-8st 1lbs Mr Jaques 20/1
4 KNIGHT OF THE WHISTLE Nat Flatman aged-8st 12lbs Lord Chesterfield 7/1
5 LOTHARIO H Bell 5-8st 12lbs Duke of Richmond 4/1
6 GARRY OWEN Mapple aged-8st 4lbs Colonel Peel 20/1
7 PHILIP T Lye 3-7st 8lbs Mr Meiklam 20/1
8 BEAUMONT Whitehouse 4-7st 4lbs Mr Mostyn 20/1
9 AJAX W Howlett aged-7st 3lbs Mr S Herbert 20/1
10 QUEBEC Riley 5-7st 2lbs Lord Eglinton 10/1
11 THE QUEEN OF THE GIPSIES Pettit 5-7st 2lbs Mr G Ongley 20/1
12 THE ALTERED ONE Crouch 6-7st 0lbs Mr Carr 20/1
13 MOUSTACHE Mitsun 4-6st 13lbs Mr Balchin 20/1
14 MISS ELIS W Abdale 3-6st 13lbs Lord George Bentinck 3/1 fav
15 VAUDERVILLE J Prince 3-6st 10lbs Lord Eglinton 20/1
16 ARCANUS Simpson 6-6st 10lbs Lord Maidstone 20/1
17 NINETY ONE A Day 4-6st 10lbs Mr Parr 20/1
18 SKELETON Esling 4-6st 4lbs Mr Phillimore 20/1
19 HERSEY W Clay 3-6st 0lbs Colonel Peel 12/1
20 REMORSE Pigot 3-5st 5lbs Mr Gill 10/1
21 RICHARD CRICKETER Hornsby 3-5st 0lbs Mr Comport Gill 20/1
This race took place on Friday 1st August 1845 and was a subscription race of 15 sovereigns each for all ages. There were 41 subscribers, and it was valued at 300 sovereigns (equivalent to £39,000 in 2021). Over round 167%