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 1936 Handicap 1 mile 2 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 WILLIAM OF VALENCE B Carslake Atty Persse 4-8st 6lbs Mr Arthur Sainsbury 100/8
2 EL SBAA T Lowrey Frank Butters HH Aga Khan 5/1 fav
3 MONICO T Bartlam R Dawson Lord Carnarvon 100/7
4 CAYMANAS Dick Perryman D Waugh Mr J U Baillie 8/1
5 JOSHUA S Donoghue Basil Jarvis Sir Victor Sassoon 33/1
6 GUEST OF HONOUR P Beasley Cundell Mrs Henry Hawkins 33/1
7 LAW COURT J Marshall Walter Nightingall Colonel F T Halse 20/1
8 SILVER CREST Eph Smith Jack Jarvis Sir John Jarvis 100/6
9 BRITISH QUOTA W Wing J Beary Mr A Savile 20/1
10 NOBLE TURK G Vergette Barling Mr Alfred Saisnbury 33/1
11 CARIOCA T WEston M Marsh Maharajah of Rajpipla 100/7
12 HEAVY WEIGHT Gordon Richards Harvey Leader Mr J Ramsden 11/2
13 MISANTHROPE P Maher George Todd Mr H Lester 33/1
14 SOLARIUM J Sirett Cottrill Mr C L Mackean 100/6
15 DUSKY DEACON H Packham Gilbert Mr F P Gilbert 100/8
16 O'GRADY Cliff Richards F Bullock Mme C Lejeune 33/1
17 NORMAN HERALD Doug Smith Sneyd Sir Henry Lyons 33/1
18 TRADE WIND K Robertson C Leader Lord Derby 33/1
19 EDGEHILL Humphrey Foster Jack Jarvis Lord Rosebery 100/7
20 HOLYROOD F Fox P Allden Mrs C Evans 100/6
This race took place on Friday 31st July 1936 and was a subscription race of 15 sovereigns each for all ages. It was valued at £1000 (equivalent to £160,000 in 2021). Over round 128%