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 1865 Handicap 2 miles 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 SUSPICION J Grimshaw 4-6st 13lbs Mr W Bevill 4/1 fav
2 SCAMANDER Custance 5-8st 5lbs Mr W S Cartwright 10/1
3 ALABAMA H Covey 4-7st 2lbs Mr R Ten Broeck 5/1
4 REDMIRE Tomlinson 3-6st 5lbs Mr Brayley 7/1
5 BLACKDOWN George Fordham 5-8st 10lbs Mr Henry 10/1
6 ARMAGNAC Carroll 5-8st 9lbs Lord Stamford 25/1
7 CLAREMONT Challoner 4-7st 12lbs Mr Bowes 5/1
8 LADY HYLDA T French 4-7st 10lbs Mr G Bryan 9/1
9 THE DRAKE Sister Tribe 4-6st 10lbs Mr G Payne 50/1
10 SPRITE Kenyon 4-6st 2lbs Mr Cliff 20/1
11 FARCE Heartfield 5-6st 0lbs Mr J Parker 100/3
This race took place on Wednesday 26th July 1865 and was a subscription race of 25 sovereigns each. There were 71 subscribers and it was valued at 300 guineas (equivalent to £39,000 in 2021) Over round 106%