Royal Ascot: Royal Hunt Cup

The Royal Hunt Cup was established in 1843, originally contested on a right-handed course over 7 furlongs and 166 yards, although the race's distance was shortened to 7 furlongs and 155 yards in 1930, but was then extended to its present length in 1956. It is now run on a straight course on the second day of the Royal meeting, and usually features a large field. It is one of three perpetual trophies at the meeting, along with the Gold Cup and the Queen's Vase, which can be kept permanently by the winning owners.
Early history:- The inaugural running took place on Wednesday 14th June 1843 when won by Lord Chesterfield's Knight of the Whistle (5/1), with a triple dead-heat for second between Lord Milltown's Bourra Tomacha (20/1), Mr Balchin's Epaulette (20/1) and Colonel Peel's Garry Owen (12/1).
Royal Hunt Cup 1864 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 GEM OF THE SEA H Grimshaw Longfield 4-7st 10lbs Mr Longfield 40/1
2 CRISIS G Sopp Fry 3-6st 2lbs Mr James Merry 100/7
3 EVELINA Carroll Joseph Hayhoe 3-6st 0lbs Baron Rothschild 4/1 fav
4 SACCHAROMETER Aldcroft 4-8st 10lbs Lord Strathmore 25/1
5 VIVID A Edwards 4-8st 8lbs Count F De Lagrange 100/3
6 JUDEX George Fordham 4-8st 7lbs Mr S Thellusson 100/1
7 EXCHEQUER J Adams 5-8st 6lbs Lord Coventry 100/8
8 FIANCEE Challoner 4-7st 10lbs Mr R C Naylor 100/1
9 BALHAM T French 6-7st 11lbs Mr Morris 100/1
10 CADIZ Norman 4-7st 11lbs Mr G Fleming 25/1
11 TATTOO S Adams 6-7st 9lbs Lord Westmorland 1000/15
12 COLUMBIA Holt 4-7st 9lbs Mr E W Watson 100/1
13 WELCOME H Covey 5-7st 7lbs Mr Bowes 100/1
14 STOCKWELL horse Whiteley 4-7st 8lbs Mr Crawfurd 100/1
15 GARDENER Lynch 6-7st 5lbs Captain King 100/3
16 BEVERLEY E Taylor 5-7st 4lbs Mr Perry 8/1
17 TRUMPS Deacon 4-7st 4lbs Marquess of Hastings 100/7
18 BIRDFINDER A Woodhouse 4-7st 4lbs Mr Cherry 100/6
19 TURCOS Job Marson 4-7st 2lbs Count Batthyany 100/8
20 LUSTRE Morgan aged-6st 12lbs Mr H Melville 40/1
21 CANZONETTE Murfet 4-6st 10lbs Mr R Ten Broeck 25/1
22 GREENLAND Grace 3-6st 8lbs Mr R Drewitt 100/1
23 OBERON Morris 3-6st 7lbs Colonel Martyn 40/1
24 SEQUENCE Low 3-6st 7lbs Mr C Snewing 50/1
25 MAIL TRAIN Botten 3-6st 7lbs Mr W Day 100/1
26 AMELIA Loates 4-6st 3lbs Lord Exeter 100/8
27 ODINE F Clark 4-6st 2lbs Marquess of Hastings 100/7
28 IPHIGENIA Sayers 3-6st 0lbs Mr R C Naylor 100/1
29 SHERIDAN S Mordan 3-5st 13lbs Lord Rendlesham 30/1
30 CASTLE ESPIE H Sharp 3-5st 12lbs Mr Murland 100/1
31 OLIVIA J Grimshaw 3-5st 12lbs Mr G Payne 8/1
32 LYTHAM Elphick 3-5st 9lbs Mr York 100/1
33 CLAIRVOYANTE F Martin 3-5st 9lbs Mr H Savile 50/1
34 BOLD HOUGHTON Boxall 3-5st 7lbs Mr R Bignell 100/1
This race took place on Wednesday 8th June 1864 and was won by a bay colt by Gemma Di Vergy out of Magnet, winning a first prize of 1220 sovereigns from 92 subscriptions (equivalent to £154,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. Over round 137%
Royal Hunt Cup Handicap 1 mile 1843
      1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849
1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859
1860 1861 1862 1863 1864