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 1880 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 STRATHERN Brockwell Richard Marsh 4-6st 8lbs Mr J Foy 40/1
2 LORD CLIVE Maidment Joseph Dawson 5-7st 10lbs Sir George Chetwynd 33/1
3 TERTIUS Pecival Hall 3-5st 7lbs Mr H Hall 25/1
4 MASTER KILDARE Fred Webb Mathew Dawson 5-9st 7lbs Lord Hastings 20/1
5 PAROLE H Jeffery W Brown aged-9st 0lbs Mr P Lorillard 100/6
6 JAPONICA Jem Goater Tom Jennings 4-8st 12lbs Count F De Lagrange 10/1
7 LA MERVEILLE Constable Robert Peck 5-8st 2lbs Lord Rosebery 33/1
8 SIR JOSPEH W Macdonald Weever 5-7st 10lbs Mr Leigh 4/1 jt fav
9 PRESTONPANE Morgan John Porter 3-7st 10lbs Mr F Gretton 40/1
10 LANCASTRIAN George Fordham Alec Taylor 4-7st 10lbs Mr W S Crawfurd 50/1
11 VEGETARIAN Loates Alf Sadler 4-7st 10lbs Mr B Western 50/1
12 CAXTONIAN F Sharp Humphreys 4-7st 8lbs Lord Howe 33/1
13 BUTLER Charles Wood Joseph Dawson 5-7st 7lbs Sir George Chetwynd 25/1
14 LOEVILLE Huxtable John Dawson 4-7st 6lbs Mr R C Naylor 200/1
15 HUMBERT J Macdonald Bates 4-7st 5lbs Mr R Jardine 25/1
16 VAN DER TANN Brown Joe Cannon 3-6st 13lbs Lord Calthorpe 40/1
17 BRIGILIA Luke John Dawson 6-6st 13lbs Mr C Alexander 200/1
18 RUPERRA Lemaire John Ryan 4-6st 12lbs Mr J H Houldsworth 4/1 jt fav
19 MY DELIGHT Barrett James Jewitt 4-6st 11lbs Mr Gerard 28/1
20 EXMOUTH Haywood Richard Marsh 4-6st 10lbs Duke of Hamilton 200/1
21 ELLANGOWAN T Hopper Enoch 4-6st 9lbs Lord Zetland 200/1
22 SCAPEGRACE Sherratt William Goater 4-6st 8lbs Lord D Gordon 12/1
23 MAID OF ORLEANS Sanders Sanders 3-6st 8lbs Mr James Sanders 200/1
24 LANCASTER BOWMAN Tinsley Mathew Dawson 3-6st 8lb Lord Hastings 200/1
25 SILVERSTREAK Cranham Richard Marsh 3-6st 7lb Mr C Langley 100/6
26 STRATHBLANE Bell Goddard 5-6st 6lbs Duke of Montrose 200/1
27 SPECULATION E Salter Holden 6-6st 4lbs Mr C Maurice 100/1
28 LINDEN Greaves Joseph Dawson 4-6st 3lbs Sir J D Astley 33/1
29 WINLAST Beech Richard L'Anson 4-6st 0lbs Mr D Dunlop 200/1
30 ROULETTE Kellett Wadlow 3-6st 1lbs Mr R Jardine 33/1
31 MAY QUEEN Pollett Wadlow 3-5st 13lbs Mr W Christie 200/1
This race took place on Wednesday 9th June 1880 and was won by a bay horse by Strathconan out of Charmione, winning a first prize of 2080 sovereigns from 79 subscriptions (equivalent to £252,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. Over round 120%
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 1879
1880