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 1886 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 DESPAIR C Loates William Gilbert jnr aged-7st 13lbs Mr William Gilbert jnr 25/1
2 LE CAISSIER Alsopp Humphreys 3-6st 2lbs Mr Childwick 100/8
3 KINSKY Fagan Jousiffe 5-8st 2lbs Colonel Crewe-Read 100/8
4 HAMBLETONIAN Charles Wood Sherrard 5-8st 8lbs General Owen Williams 4/1 fav
5 PRISM John Watts Enoch 6-8st 7lbs Lord Zetland 20/1
6 EASTERN EMPEROR G Barrett Alec Taylor 5-8st 6lbs Duke of Beaufort 7/1
7 LORD CHARLES Fred Archer Hopper 4-8st 8lbs Mr J Davis 85/20
8 BORNEO John Osborne Tom Jennings jnr 5-8st 5lbs Sir R Jardine 50/1
9 KILCREENE F Barrett James Jewitt 4-8st 0lbs Mr Smithwick 10/1
10 EURASIAN W Lashmar James Waugh 4-7st 11lbs Mr Jack Hammond 11/1
11 DOUBLOON J E Tomlinsson John Ryan 3-7st 3lbs Mr Douglas Baird 20/1
12 MARTINET J Wall Wadlow 3-7st 0lbs Lord Bradford 20/1
13 VERMILION A White W Stevens 6-7st 0lbs Mr W Gilbert 100/8
14 HESITATION F Sharpe Hobbs 3-5st 9lbs Mr E Hobson 100/3
This race took place on Wednesday 9th June 1886 and was won by a chesnut horse by Sew Saw out of Pleine De Coeur, winning a first prize of 1580 sovereigns from 54 subscriptions (equivalent to £205,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. The actual first prize was £1010. Over round 112%
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 1885 1886