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 1877 Handicap 1 mile 2 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 MOUSQUETAIRE Morgan 4-7st 5lbs Lord Lascelles 6/4 fav
2 HARBINGER Greaves 3-6st 3lbs Mr F Gretton 50/1
3 DALHAM Fred Webb 6-9st 0lbs Duke of Westminster 20/1
4 HESPER Fred Archer 4-9st 5lbs Lord Lonsdale 100/8
5 PRINCE GEORGE Huxtable 4-7st 8lbs Mr W S Crawfurd 7/1
6 CRADLE Wainwright 4-7st 2lbs Lord Wilton 5/1
7 TWICE THE PLAIDEN Dodge 4-7st 2lbs Mr J Bowes 100/6
8 WINCHILSEA Lemaire 3-7st 1lbs Duke of Hamilton 25/1
9 FAIR SAUNTRESS Luke 5-6st 8lbs Mr W S Cartwright 20/1
10 SIGN MANUAL J MacDonald 3-6st 6lbs Major Stapylton 50/1
11 RASCAL Hopkins 4-6st 4lbs Sir J D Astley 50/1
12 HADRIAN W MacDonald 3-6st 3lbs Mr Gee 10/1
13 JUAN Howey 3-6st 2lbs Mr Phillips 10/1
14 ANNETTE Beard 3-6st 2lbs Sir George Chetwynd 50/1
15 MACAROON Gallon 3-5st 8lbs Mr Gerard 50/1
16 LANCASTER J E Jones 3-5st 7lbs Mr J Ambery 50/1
This race took place on Friday 3rd August 1877 and was a subscription race of 15 sovereigns each for all ages. There were 56 subscribers, and it was valued at 300 sovereigns (equivalent to £37,000 in 2021). Over round 126%