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 1957 Handicap 2 miles 3 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 PERSIAN FLAG W H Carr W Nightingall 4-8st 7lbs Colonel F Halse 13/2 fav
2 TICKLED PINK T Carter George Todd Mrs J Hislop 100/7
3 COMBATANT Willie Snaith Cottrill Major Lionel Holliday 8/1
4 BONHOMIE Paul Tulk Ernie Cousins Mr J Wood 20/1
5 PARSONS MYTH Ray Reader Killick Miss M Refallack 100/6
6 SAPHOS Bill Rickaby Nelson Mr J Collier 100/7
7 VALENCIA Greville Starkey Elsey Mr Willaim Hill 7/1
8 EDWARD THE THIRD Eph Smith R J Colling Lord Astor 7/1
9 ADAM'S WALK D Greening Wallington Mr L Mills 100/6
10 TEACHER John Egan Jack Jarvis Lord Rosebery 100/6
11 ICARIAN Duncan Keith Walter Nightingall Mr C Bell 20/1
12 GUDMENARMIST Millbanks Hanley Mr J Fake 20/1
13 ZAMOSC Hayes Jeremy Tree Count S Zamoyski 20/1
14 CORYDALIS J Forte Sneyd Major C Raphael 20/1
15 OBVERSE Lynch H Price Mrs V Pateman 20/1
This race took place on Wednesday 31st July 1957 and was a subscription race of 10 sovereigns each. It was valued at £1760 (equivalent to £45,000 in 2021) Over round 110%