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 1872 Handicap 1 mile 2 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 NEAPOLITAN Constable 3-6st 10lbs Lord Wilton 10/1
2 LUCY SUTTON Peppler 3-6st 8lbs Mr G G Keswick 100/15
3 PRINCE CHARLIE T French 3-8st 7lbs Mr Joseph Dawson 4/1 fav
4 HANNAH Maidment 4-9st 2lbs Baron Rothschild 100/8
5 OXONIAN T Chaloner 6-8st 12lbs Mr Richmond 8/1
6 DIGBY GRAND George Fordham 4-8st 8lbs Mr G G Keswick 100/8
7 MORNINGTON T Cannon 4-8st 7lbs Mr E Brayley 100/7
8 SOUCAR C Page 5-8st 7lbs Mr E Brayley 50/1
9 INDIAN OCEAN T Osborne 5-8st 6lbs Lord B Paget 40/1
10 COUNTRYMAN Jeffery 5-8st 6lbs Sir George Chetwynd 20/1
11 BLENHEIM Tom Jennings junior 4-8st 0lbs M Lefevre 100/7
12 HECTOR Hunt 6-7st 12lbs Mr J Parry 50/1
13 SIR ROBERT WALPOLE H Covey 4-7st 6lbs Lord Ailesbury 25/1
14 PETO Livington 3-7st 4lbs Mr J Merry 50/1
15 ISLAM Busby 6-7st 1lbs Mr Milford 50/1
16 PARMESAN Colt Vivian 4-6st 13lbs Mr F Swindell 50/1
17 PROTO MARTYR Skelton 3-6st 13lbs Mr Spencer 20/1
18 SILVESTER Fred Archer 3-6st 6lbs Lord Falmouth 7/1
19 PITCHFORK Macksey 4-6st 6lb Mr Henry Chaplin 100/8
20 TASSELSON Baverstock 3-6st 3lbs Mr T H Fleet 50/1
This race took place on Friday 2nd August 1872 and was a subscription race of 15 sovereigns each for all ages. There were 66 subscribers, and it was valued at 300 sovereigns (equivalent to £38,000 in 2021). Over round 133%