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 1844 Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 FRANCHISE A Day George Dawson 5-6st 0lbs Mr Wreford 7/1
2 LUCY BANKS H Bell 5-8st 1lbs Mr Shelley 12/1
3 JOHNNY S Mann aged-8st 0lbs Mr Payne 25/1
4 PARTHIAN Nat Flatman 4-8st 0lbs Lord Chesterfield 6/1
5 THE ERA W Noble 4-8st 6lbs Mr W H Johnstone 4/1
6 AJAX Sly 6-7st 7lbs Mr S Herbert 50/1
7 THE CURRIER Howlett aged-7st 0lbs Duke of Richmond 50/1
8 GLADIATOR Filly Pettit 4-6st 9lbs Lord Exeter 20/1
9 ROWLAND R Cotton 4-6st 3lb Sir W W Wynn 50/1
10 THE BEST OF THREE Winteringham 3-6st 0lbs Mr Meiklam 10/1
11 SUBDUER Carter 4-5st 10lbs Sir S Spry 50/1
12 PRIDE OF KILDARE Longstaff 3-5st 10lbs Mr Irwin 50/1
13 MURTON LORDSHIP Planner 4-5st 8lbs Colonel Wyndham 25/1
14 THE BLACK GENTLEMAN W Treen 4-5st 4lbs Lord George Bentinck 50/1
15 CLAUDE FROLLO Sharpe 3-5st 0lbs Duke of Beaufort 50/1
16 ALGERNON Arnull 3-5st 0lbs Lord Exeter 50/1
17 CROTON OIL Abdale 3-5st 0lbs Lord George Bentinck 7/2 fav
18 BEST BOWER Kitchener 3-4st 5lbs Lord George Bentinck 50/1
This race took place on Wednesday 31st July 1844 and was a subscription race of 25 sovereigns each. There were 121 subscribers and it was valued at 300 guineas (equivalent to £41,000 in 2021) Over round 116%