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 1862 Handicap 1 mile 1 furlong 192yds
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 PRINCE PLAUSIBLE George Fordham 4-7st 8lbs Count Batthyany 15/1
2 BOSH S Adams 3-5st 10lbs Sir W Codrington 10/1
3 HUMPHREY J Doyle 3-6st 6lbs Mr W Lambert 7/1
4 KING OF DIAMONDS Wells 5-9st 2lbs Baron Rothschild 30/1
5 MAN AT ARMS Kendall 5-8st 11lbs Mr Sutton 30/1
6 GENERAL HESS S Rogers 5-8st 7lbs Lord Uxbridge 8/1
7 WILD ROSE E Sharp 6-8st 4lbs Mr R Bignell 20/1
8 SIR WILLIAM Hayward 5-8st 1lbs Mr J Merry 6/1 fav
9 LADY RIPON Bullock 4-7st 13lbs Mr Johnstone 8/1
10 CHERE AMIE Challoner 5-7st 12lbs Mr R C Naylor 50/1
11 MISTAKE W Woodhouse 5-7st 10lbs General Shirley 50/1
12 MAGGIORE G Parsons 5-7st 5lbs Mr R Ten Broeck 50/1
13 VOLUNTEER T French 4-7st 3lbs Mr W D Gardener 100/6
14 MYRTLE Bench 4-7st 3lbs Mr G W Fitzwilliam 8/1
15 LEONORA H Taylor 3-7st 0lbs Mr W Murphy 33/1
16 HUBERT Hardcastle 3-6st 13lbs Colonel Towneley 50/1
17 SPENCER J Daley 4-6st 10lbs Lord Palmerston 10/1
18 COSTA H Covey 3-6st 9lbs Mr J Merry 50/1
19 STOCKWELL Colt Drew 3-6st 8lbs Lord Wilton 50/1
20 LAPIDIST Howe 3-6st 4lbs Mr Elphinstone 50/1
21 ACE OF CLUBS Whiteley 3-6st 4lbs Lord Annesley 100/6
22 SARACEN J Plumb 3-6st 3lbs Mr Benham 50/1
23 GORSE Carroll 3-6st 3lbs Baron Rothschild 100/6
24 RIOTER Deacon 3-5st 12lbs Mr Turner 50/1
25 DISDAIN Hunter 3-5st 10lbs Mr W S Crawfurd 50/1
26 BANDAGE J Grimshaw 3-5st 10lbs Mr Payne 50/1
This race took place on Friday 1st August 1862 and was a subscription race of 15 sovereigns each for all ages. There were 65 subscribers, and it was valued at 300 sovereigns (equivalent to £39,000 in 2021). Over round 138%