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 1854 Handicap 1 mile 1 furlong 192yds
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 CATSPAW Ashmall 4-7st 4lbs Mr J M Stanley 10/1
2 KNIGHT OF ST GEORGE Basham 3-7st 3lbs Mr Morris 100/12
3 DEFIANCE Marlow 4-8st 8lbs Captain Christie 25/1
4 LITTLE DAVID Hornsby 4-8st 7lbs Mr W Smith 25/1
5 LASCELLES Whitehouse 4-8st 6lbs Mr R E Cooper 100/7
6 NANCY Norman 6-8st 1lbs Mr J Martinson 100/7
7 RATTLE E Sharp 4-8st 0lbs Mr P Dennett 100/7
8 LAMBTON H Goater 4-8st 0lbs Mr J Merry 25/1
9 MINCEMEAT Charlton 3-7st 9lbs Baron Meyer de Rothschild 8/1
10 CALOT Clements 5-7st 6lbs Mr Saxon 25/1
11 BRIBERY Nat Flatman 3-7st 6lbs Lord Bruce 25/1
12 KITEFLYER Cliff 5-7st 5lbs Mr J Wadlow 25/1
13 JOUVENCE T Sherwood 4-7st 4lbs Mr Lupin 25/1
14 APOLLONIUS Chilman 3-7st 2lbs Mr Howard 25/1
15 SPEED THE PLOUGH Heffer 4-7st 0lbs Count Batthyany 25/1
16 THE CALIPH Bates 3-6st 12lbs Mr Knowles 25/1
17 DIANA Wells 3-6st 12lbs Mr Howard 25/1
18 PHANTOM G Waddington 3-6st 10lbs Sir W Booth 25/1
19 INVASION S Steggles 4-6st 10lbs Mr Greville 100/30
20 LORD ALBEMARLE Kendall 4-6st 10lbs Mr Bloss 25/1
21 GREY TOMMY Brother Aldcroft 4-6st 10lbs Mr Drinkald 5/2 fav
22 MISS SARAH Carroll 4-6st 8lbs Lord Glasgow 100/7
23 MONIE MOSES Palmer 3-6st 7lbs Mr T Johnson 25/1
This race took place on Friday 28th July 1854 and was a subscription race of 15 sovereigns each for all ages. There were 42 subscribers, and it was valued at 300 sovereigns (equivalent to £35,000 in 2021). Over round 168%