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 1938 Handicap 1 mile 2 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 PYLON II Eph Smith Holland 5-8st 1lbs Mrs C Bennett 7/1
2 HEAVY WEIGHT P Maher Harvey Leader Mr J Ramsden 6/1
3 INTOLERANCE T Weston Dines Mrs A Williams 100/7
4 MAGNET R A Jones F Templeman Lord Hirst 100/8
5 BATTLE SONG Ken Gethin Gilbert Captain G S Barnes 100/6
6 J'ACCOURS J Simpson Beatty Mr A K Macomber 10/1
7 SPOT BARRED Harry Wragg Walter Earl Sir Percy Loraine 100/8
8 DOMAHA Gordon Richards Fred Armstrong Mr J A Swan 4/1 fav
9 INISHBOLIN H Sprague J Reardon Captain Spencer Freeman 100/8
10 PIKE BARN T Lowrey Basil Jarvis Mr J P Hornung 100/8
11 SUNBATHER J Sirett Lawson Sir Victor Sassoon 20/1
12 NOBLE KING Doug Smith Frank Butters Sir Alfred Butt 20/1
13 HALCYON GIFT Cliff Richards Swash Mrs Monkhouse 20/1
14 CHINA DUKE A Richardson Duke Mr A J Smith 20/1
15 BIMCO W Griggs H Turner Mr John Ismay 20/1
This race took place on Friday 29th July 1938 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 125%