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 1859 Handicap 2 miles 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 STARKE Plumb 4-7st 7lbs Mr R Ten Broeck 100/6
2 LIFEBOAT Wells 4-8st 7lbs Mr J Shelley 5/2 fav
3 BLUE JACKET George Fordham 5-8st 6lbs Mr J Rigby 8/1
4 HEIRESS Madden 3-5st 10lbs Mr Hargreaves 25/1
5 MELISSA Bray 6-8st 2lbs Lord Clifden 100/6
6 MISS CATH C Pratt 6-7st 10lbs Baron de Niviere 50/1
7 COMPROMISE Nat Flatman 4-7st 8lbs Lord Ailesbury 12/1
8 GOUVIEUX G Pratt 4-7st 5lbs Count de Prado 25/1
9 QUEENSTOWN F Adams 4-7st 4lb Mr Lambert 25/1
10 WORCESTER Charlton 5-7st 2lbs Lord Strathmore 20/1
11 FERNDALE Bullock 4-6st 12lbs Captain Christie 50/1
12 ETHIOPIAN Daley 4-6st 11lbs Mr Gratwicke 20/1
13 TOCHER J Adams 4-6st 3lbs Mr Manden 33/1
14 GASPARD Challoner 3-6st 2lbs Mr T Parr 10/1
15 QUEEN BESS Grimshaw 5-5st 10lbs Mr Saxon 6/1
16 HELIA W Bottom 3-5st 4lbs Mr Crawfurd 50/1
17 WOODBURN Custance 3-6st 7lbs Mr R Ten Broeck 50/1
This race took place on Wednesday 27th July 1859 and was a subscription race of 25 sovereigns each. There were 98 subscribers and it was valued at 300 guineas (equivalent to £36,000 in 2021) Over round 114%