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 1850 Handicap 2 miles 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 WINDISCHGRATZ G Mann 3-5st 10lbs Captain Archdall 4/5 fav
2 WONT YOU COME OUT TONIGHT Steggles 3-4st 11lbs Sir J B Mill 12/1
3 TESTATOR Walker 4-6st 7lbs Lord Eglinton 30/1
4 SAUTER LA COUPE Rodney 4-6st 11lbs Mr Drinkald 50/1
5 GLEN SADDEL Cartwright 5-7st 13lbs Sir C Rushout 50/1
6 COCKERMOUTH Wakefield senior 5-7st 11lbs Mr Isaac Day 50/1
7 BORNEO Nat Flatman 4-7st 10lbs Lord H G Lennox 16/1
8 SNOWSTORM T Lye 4-7st 6lbs Mr Meiklam 7/1
9 JELLY FISH Kitchener 4-7st 6lb Duke of Richmond 50/1
10 MAID OF TEAM VALLEY Dockeray 4-7st 1lbs Mr H Walter 25/1
11 RODNEY E Sharp 4-6st 9lbs Mr E R Clark 50/1
12 DON JUAN Charlton 4-6st 6lbs Colonel Anson 50/1
13 BACCHANALIAN Witherton 5-6st 0lbs Sir Joseph Hawley 16/1
14 NORMANTON Robert Sherwood 4-6st 0lbs Mr Carew 50/1
15 CLOTHWORKER Hiett 4-6st 0lbs Mr Parr 25/1
16 CAYENNE Pavis 4-5st 6lbs Mr Daley 50/1
17 RABELAIS Toovey 3-4st 8lbs Lord Clifden 50/1
This race took place on Wednesday 31st July 1850 and was a subscription race of 25 sovereigns each. There were 140 subscribers and it was valued at 300 guineas (equivalent to £31,000 in 2021) Over round 118%