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 (Plate) 1908 Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 ASTICOT J Plant 5-6st 12lbs (Lynham) Mr H S Goodson 10/1
2 MERCREDI F Wootton 4-6st 12lbs Lord Durham 6/1
3 PILLO W Halsey 3-8st 2lbs Mr J Buchanan 8/1
4 ROYAL DREAM Walter Griggs 5-8st 8lbs Mr J B Joel 3/1 fav
5 MARLOW W Higgs 5-8st 6lbs Captain J G B Homfray 9/1
6 SHULETOI E Piper 5-6st 12lbs Mr G Edwardes 20/1
7 KINGS COURTSHIP H Stokes 4-7st 5lbs Mr A E Bowen 100/7
8 RATHER DANGEROUS W Clements 3-6st 0lbs Mr J D Cohn 20/1
9 IMPRESSION J Howard 5-6st 12lbs Mr J Gould 100/7
10 PLUM TREE D Maher 5-9st 2lbs Mr Fairie 6/1
11 LUCIFER Williams 5-6st 13lbs Mr H Bonas 20/1
12 MADAME DE SOUBISE W Broadwood 5-7st 2lbs Mr Arthur James 100/8
13 MARCOBRUNNER R Crisp aged-6st 11lbs Mr E Brandon 20/1
14 MAYA Cosgrove 4-6st 10lbs Mr W R Wyndham 20/1
This race took place on Wednesday 29th July 1908 and was a subscription race of 10 sovereigns each. It was valued at 1000 sovereigns (equivalent to £142,000 in 2021) Over round 130%