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 1837 Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 LUCIFER Twitchett 5-7st 10lbs Mr Robertson 14/1
2 THE CARPENTER T Lye 4-8st 2lbs Mr S Fox 5/2 fav
3 HORNSEA Scott 5-9st 11lbs Lord Chesterfield 6/1
4 ALFRED A Pavis 4-8st 4lbs Lord Suffield 8/1
5 FELIX A Lad 5-8st 0lbs Mr Houldsworth 20/1
6 FAMINE W Macdonald 6-7st 12lbs Mr Forth 14/1
7 ALUMNUS A Lad 4-7st 10lbs Mr Etwall 20/1
8 JACK-IN-THE-GREEN E Edwards 4-7st 9lbs Lord Albemarle 20/1
9 MUS S Rogers 4-7st 8lbs Duke of Richmond 20/1
10 THE DRUMMER S Day 4-7st 4lbs Mr John Day 20/1
11 MENDICANT Nat Flatman 4-7st 0lbs Lord Jersey 20/1
12 WISDOM A Lad 3-7st 0lbs Mr Wreford 8/1
13 SEPOY J Sharp 4-6st 12lbs Duke of Richmond 20/1
14 TYRANT A Lad 4-6st 12lbs Mr Wreford 20/1
15 BARNEY BODKIN Dodgson aged-6st 12lbs Mr Harris 20/1
16 SKILLEYGOLEE W Boyce 3-6st 5lbs Duke of Richmond 20/1
17 CHAPEAU D'ESPAGNE W Day 3-5st 12lbs Mr John Day 10/1
18 CASSANDRA J Doe 3-5st 6lbs Lord Lichfield 20/1
This race took place on Wednesday 2nd August 1837 and was a subscription race of 25 sovereigns each. There were 107 subscribers and it was valued at 300 guineas (equivalent to £42,000 in 2021) Over round 142%