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 1859 Handicap 1 mile 1 furlong 192yds
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 ZUYDER ZEE Wells 5-8st 12lbs Mr W S Crawfurd 100/7
2 SUNBEAM French 4-8st 5lbs Mr J Merry 6/1
3 HEIRESS Madden 3-6st 5lbs Mr Hargreaves 6/1
4 MENTMORE John Osborne 4-8st 2lbs Baron Rothschild 10/1
5 ANCIENT BRITON Snowden 4-8st 2lbs Mr Saxon 14/1
6 KING AT ARMS Britton 3-8st 0lbs Mr Sutton 50/1
7 THEODORA Nat Flatman 6-8st 0lbs Captain Little 20/1
8 FULBECK Plumb aged-7st 10lbs Major Bringhurst 50/1
9 HIGHWAYMAN J Mann 3-7st 7lbs Mr Capel 50/1
10 TIARA Cresswell 4-7st 7lbs Mr F Higgins 100/7
11 CLYDESDALE George Fordham 4-7st 6lbs Mr G Lambert 4/1 fav
12 TWILIGHT Custance 3-7st 4lbs Mr Dennis 50/1
13 FERNDALE Bullock 4-7st 3lbs Captain Christie 10/1
14 AMSTERDAM Hibberd 4-7st 0lbs Mr Quartermaine 50/1
15 MAID OF KENT Daley 4-7st 0lbs Mr Gratwicke 12/1
16 GRACCHUS W Bottom 3-6st 13lbs Captain Pack Beresford 50/1
17 TOCHER Grimshaw 4-6st 12lbs Mr Manden 50/1
18 MOURAVIEFF Teretta 3-6st 12lbs Lord Strathmore 50/1
19 PAN Challoner 3-6st 12lbs Mr T Parr 50/1
20 FLEET Pritchard 3-6st 8lbs Mr W Towsey 50/1
21 MEG MERRILIES Covey 3-6st 6lbs Mr J Merry 50/1
22 INDIFFERENCE Bray 3-6st 6lbs Lord Lincoln 50/1
23 PALM LEAF J Adams 3-6st 5lbs Mr A Williams 50/1
This race took place on Friday 29th July1859 and was a subscription race of 15 sovereigns each for all ages. There were 51 subscribers, and it was valued at 300 sovereigns (equivalent to £36,000 in 2021). Over round 126%