Goodwood was not rewarded with a King’s Plate for the first 30 years of its history despite the first King’s Plate being run in 1634. King William IV loved racing at Goodwood, owning many winners and having a close friendship with the Duke of Richmond and, in theory, being distant relations. His Majesty’s Plates were universally worth 100 Guineas, were free to enter, often attracted the best horses of the day and were first staged at Goodwood in 1831, although they no longer form part of the Goodwood race programme.
Early history:-The inaugural running of His Majesty’s Plate was on Friday 19th August 1831 when Lord Lowther’s 3-year-old bay colt Midhurst beat Anthony and Carthago.