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 1856 Handicap 2 miles 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 PRETTY BOY Aldcroft 3-7st 8lbs Mr Barber 20/1
2 SANDBOY George Fordham 4-6st 7lbs Mr Howard 7/1
3 LADY TATTON John Osborne 4-7st 10lbs Mr Jackson 12/1
4 POLE STAR Nat Flatman 4-8st 7lbs Mr Snewing 25/1
5 SPEED THE PLOUGH Ashmall 6-8st 10lbs Mr Brown 25/1
6 HUNGERFORD Bartholomew aged-8st 7lbs Baron Rothschild 25/1
7 HOMILY Wakefield 4-7st 4lbs Lord Clifden 8/1
8 VANDAL Cresswell 4-7st 2lbs Sir Charles Monck 12/1
9 PEU D'ESPOIR Bates 4-7st 2lb Mr Aumont 25/1
10 LUNDYFOOT Hall 3-7st 0lbs Mr J Merry 25/1
11 JOLLY MARINE Mundy 4-6st 10lbs Mr Edwards 25/1
12 COMEDY J Steggles 3-6st 10lbs Baron Rothschild 25/1
13 ST CLARE J Forster 5-6st 9lbs Mr Mather 25/1
14 DIANA Crouch 5-6st 7lbs Mr Isaac Day 25/1
15 HIGH PRIEST Plumb 4-6st 7lbs Captain White 25/1
16 ENCHANTER Salter 3-6st 7lbs Mr Gully 25/1
17 ZETA Challoner 3-6st 5lbs Lord Zetland 5/1 fav
18 FAIR GERALDINE Bray 3-6st 2lbs Mr Stone 25/1
19 GOLDHILL Quinton 3-6st 2lbs Mr T Parr 7/1
20 BESIKA Edwards 4-5st 9lbs Lord Exeter 25/1
21 VAN EYCK Bullock 3-5st 7lbs Mr Treen 20/1
22 KING COB Bundy 3-5st 7lbs Mr Waller 25/1
23 BIRDCATCHER Colt Hibberd 3-5st 6lbs Lord Glasgow 25/1
24 BANDALORE Pritchard 3-5st 5lbs Captain Christie 10/1
25 CHEVY CHASE Hearnden 3-4st 11lbs Sir R Pigot 25/1
This race took place on Wednesday 30th July 1856 and was a subscription race of 25 sovereigns each. There were 113 subscribers and it was valued at 300 guineas (equivalent to £35,000 in 2021) Over round 149%