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 1878 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 JULIUS CAESAR Fred Archer Joseph Dawson 5-8st 6lbs Mr J T Best 20/1
2 BELPHOEBE Charles Wood George Bloss 6-7st 12lbs Lord Hartington 20/1
3 ROSY CROSS Constable J Martin 4-7st 11lbs Mr H Rymill 10/1
4 KINETON Newhouse William Jarvis 6-7st 8lbs Mr F Leleu 100/30 fav
5 AUGUSTA W Johnson Tom Jennings 5-7st 5lbs Count F De Lagrange 100/1
6 CRADLE Morgan Wadlow 5-7st 4lbs Lord Wilton 10/1
7 JESTER Luke John Dawson 3-7st 2lbs Mr R C Naylor 33/1
8 TOUCHET J Macdonald Dover 4-7st 1lbs Lord Rosebery 10/1
9 POST HASTE John Watts Percy 4-7st 0lbs Lord Allington 8/1
10 THE REEVE C Willis Alf Sadler 5-7st 0lbs Mr C B Cave 40/1
11 SPIEGELSCHIFF Tomlinson Enoch 4-6st 9lbs Lord Zetland 20/1
12 AVONTES Hopkins Alec Taylor 4-6st 9lbs Mr W Crawfurd 5/1
13 FAIR LYONESE T Hopper Tom Leader 3-6st 3lbs Mr W S Cartwright 100/1
14 SWING E Rossiter Wadlow 4-6st 2lbs Lord Bradford 100/1
15 BALANCE J E Jones Wadlow 3-6st 0lbs Lord Wilton 8/1
16 HADDON Collins Jousiffe 3-5st 7lbs Lord Kesteven 25/1
17 SEE SAW filly Hammond Gilbert 3-5st 7lbs Mr H Savile 50/1
18 POTENTATE Gallon Peter Price 3-6st 0lbs Mr W S Mitchell-Innes 100/1
19 KNOWSLEY filly Saddington George Bloss 3-5st 12lbs Mr H Chaplin 50/1
This race took place on Wednesday 19th June 1878 and was won by a brown horse by St Albans out of Julie, winning a first prize of 1020 sovereigns from 72 subscriptions (equivalent to £122,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. Over round 121%
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 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869
1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878