Goodwood Stakes

The Goodwood Stakes (Handicap) is the second oldest race still staged at the Glorious Goodwood Festival having first been run in 1823 in its current format. However, some might claim that it is the oldest race, since a Goodwood Stakes over 2 miles was staged at the 1811 meeting, a year before the inaugural running of the present day Goodwood Cup, while others would assert that a Goodwood Silver Cup was first held in 1808. It is a handicap for 3-year-olds and above over 2miles 5 furlongs, although it has fluctuated between 2 miles 5 furlongs and 2 miles throughout its history, and is currently contested over 2 miles 4 furlongs and 134 yards, making it a wonderful spectacle for the crowd, as it starts in front of the stands and is the longest presently run at the Festival.
Early history:-The inaugural running of the Goodwood Stakes was on Tuesday 12th August 1823 when the Duke of Richmond's Dandizette defeated Lord Egremont's Young Gohanna colt, although on the same card the Old Goodwood Club Stakes saw Lord Egremont’s Elfrid beat Mr C Day's Victorine.
Goodwood Stakes 1834 Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 ROBIN ROUGHEAD C Norman 4-7st 7lbs Mr Champion 10/1
2 BARNEY BODKIN Wakefield 4-7st 0lbs Mr Scott 20/1
3 EASTON S Mann 4-6st 12lbs Mr Taunton 12/1
4 MESSENGER G Edwards 5-8st 10lbs Mr Gardnor 15/1
5 ELEANOR J Chapple 5-7st 4lbs Mr Sadler 25/1
6 UNCLE TOBY W Macdonald 4-8st 4lbs Mr E Peel 15/1
7 LISTON John Day aged-9st 6lbs Mr Isaac Day 8/1
8 QUARTETTO Nat Flatman 5-8st 10lbs Lord Chesterfield 25/1
9 BALEINE F Boyce 4-8st 4lbs Mr Kent 15/1
10 NON COMPOS Charles Day 5-8st 0lbs Mr Cosby 25/1
11 MOORHEN Sam Chifney junior 4-7st 9lbs Mr W Chifney 25/1
12 LONGWAIST Filly Sam Darling 4-7st 0lbs Mr Wyatt 25/1
13 CALDICOT A Lad 4-6st 12lb Mr Pryse 5/1 fav
14 BON TON Bill Scott 3-6st 10lb Lord Chesterfield 13/1
15 SKIMMER Spring 3-6st 9lbs Mr Payne 25/1
16 MUSQUITO Jem Robinson 3-6st 0lbs Lord Jersey 15/1
This race took place on Wednesday 30th July 1834 and was a subscription race of 25 sovereigns each. There were 96 subscribers and it was valued at 300 guineas (equivalent to £41,000 in 2021) Over round 115%