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 1884 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 ACROSTIC F Barrett Bates 4-8st 5lbs Mr R Jardine 100/7
2 DUKE OF RICHMOND Charles Wood John Porter 3-8st 0lbs Duke of Westminster 100/30 fav
3 CUTLET Lashmar Joe Cannon 4-6st 11lbs Lord Rosebery 100/7
4 QUICKLIME K Tomlinson Wadlow 5-8st 3lbs Lord Bradford 9/2
5 COSMOS H Luke Richard Marsh 4-7st 10lbs Duke of Hamilton 40/1
6 MIDDLETHORPE Sam Loates Joseph Hayhoe 4-7st 4lbs Leopold De Rothschild 25/1
7 SULPHUR G Woodburn W Stevens aged-6st 13lbs Mr Eastern 40/1
8 ROYAL STAG Jimmy Woodburn William L'Anson 4-6st 13lbs Mr J B Cookson 5/1
9 EASTERN EMPRESS E Martin James Jewitt 3-6st 10lbs Duke of Beaufort 10/1
10 MAGDALEN G Johnson Wadlow 3-6st 6lbs Mr H Chaplin 40/1
11 VERMILION A White W Stevens 4-6st 10lbs Mr W Gilbert 40/1
12 CORRUNA Higham George Bloss 4-6st 2lbs Lord Hartington 100/6
13 OFFSPRING J Wall John Ryan 3-6st 0lbs Mr D Baird 40/1
14 LIGHT HEART Lewis William Goater 3-6st 0lbs Mr Craven 40/1
15 MONOTONY Dunn James Jewitt 3-6st 0lbs General Owen Williams 40/1
16 CANZONI J E Tomlinson James Jewitt 3-6st 0lbs Lord Calthorpe 10/1
This race took place on Wednesday 11th June 1884 and was won by a bay colt by See Saw out of Lady Alice Hawthorn, winning a first prize of 2000 sovereigns from 64 subscriptions (equivalent to £223,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. The actual first prize was £1130. Over round 119%
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 1881 1882 1883 1884