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 1897 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 KNIGHT OF THE THISTLE Allsopp James Jewitt 4-7st 5lbs Mr H McCalmont 100/12
2 VICTOR WILD Morny Cannon Joe Cannon aged-9st 12lbs Mr T Worton 100/8
3 GREENLAWN Bradford Andrews 6-8st 8lbs Mr A Cohen 100/7
4 DIAKKA F Finlay Huggins 4-7st 5lbs Lord W Beresford 10/1
5 QUARREL John Watts Walters jnr 4-8st 13lbs Lord Rosebery 100/7
6 VIGOUREUX Herbert Toon Rolfe 6-8st 1lbs M E De St Alary 50/1
7 BALSAMO Otto Madden Richard Marsh 4-7st 9lbs Duke of Devonshire 9/2 fav
8 FUNNY BOAT S Chandley Tom Chaloner 4-7st 0lbs Mr E Courage 20/1
9 ROSEMERRYN Kempton Cannon Alfred Hayhoe 3-6st 13lbs Leopold De Rothschild 100/7
10 HIS REVERENCE Robinson Joe Cannon 4-6st 12lbs Mr C Morbey 11/2
11 MILFORD J Sharples Webb aged-6st 11lbs Mr Jersey 33/1
12 COYLTON Jenkins John Ryan 4-6st 8lbs Mr J H Houldsworth 50/1
13 CHIN CHIN C Leader Bates 6-6st 8lbs Mr J Bibby 20/1
14 FULL AMOUR G F Leader Walters jnr 4-6st 8lbs Lord Rosebery 20/1
15 FIELD DAY Ballington Robinson 3-6st 8lbs Mr W M Clarke 50/1
16 NORTHALLERTON Fiely Platt 3-6st 7lbs Mr Martin D Rucker 33/1
17 FORCETT H Jones W Waugh 3-6st 4lbs Sir J Bundell Maple 100/6
18 FOSTON Dunn W Stevens 3-6st 0lb Mr H I Higham 100/8
19 STEWARTON Doulton John Dawson snr 3-6st 1lbs Mr Wallace Johnstone 50/1
This race took place on Wednesday 16th June 1897 and was won by a horse by Rosebery, winning a first prize of 1720 sovereigns from 61 subscriptions (equivalent to £224,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. Over round 126%
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 1887 1888 1889
1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897