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 1851 Handicap 2 miles 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 BACKBITER Nat Flatman 6-7st 9lbs Colonel Anson 8/1
2 GRAND DUKE Wells 3-5st 5lbs Mr S Herbert 5/2 fav
3 STRONGBOW Job Marson 5-7st 13lbs Lord Clifden 25/1
4 BACTON Kendall 4-5st 13lbs Mr C Barnett 20/1
5 PITSFORD A Day 4-8st 3lbs Mr John Arnold 8/1
6 WINDISCHGRATZ Basham 4-7st 9lbs Mr Carew 12/1
7 DUC AU DURRAS H Robertson 6-7st 7lbs Lord Waterford 6/1
8 CHAMPION Charlton 5-6st 10lbs Colonel Anson 25/1
9 NARCISSUS Hiett 4-6st 1lb Mr Burgess 10/1
10 PRESTO Hammond 3-5st 5lbs Mr Rayner 12/1
11 HURRY SCURRY Garvey 3-5st 0lbs Duke of Richmond 25/1
12 HARPSICHORD Toovey 3-4st 12lbs Lord Clifden 20/1
13 DON JOHN Colt W Carroll 3-4st 4lbs Lord Glasgow 12/1
This race took place on Wednesday 30th July 1851 and was a subscription race of 25 sovereigns each. There were 116 subscribers and it was valued at 300 guineas (equivalent to £31,000 in 2021) Over round 119%