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 1954 Handicap 7 furlongs 155 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 CHIVALRY D Forte T R Rimell Mr P Hatvany 33/1
2 KING OF THE TUDORS K Gethin W Stephenson Mr F W Dennis 100/8
3 DESERT WAY Brian Swift Reardon Mr J Reardon 9/1
4 POLYNESIAN E Smith J A Waugh Mrs W P Wyatt 100/8
5 TREETOPS HOTEL E Walker W Stephenson Lord Hampden 33/1
6 JUPITER G Richards Beasley Lord Lambton 18/1
7 SET FAIR L Piggott Nightingall Mr C W Bell 33/1
8 ORGOGLIO E Britt Elsey Mr Phil Bull 20/1
9 PROPITIATION C Smirke Lawson Mr W B Bowyer 6/1 fav
10 RHINEHART W Carr Candy Major E O Kay 25/1
11 GOOD BRANDY D Smith H Peacock Mr R S Clark 20/1
12 NOVARULLAN R Durant W Stephenson Mr J McGrath 33/1
13 PREFECT J Mercer Cannon Mr J Olding 25/1
14 AMBASSADOR'S COURT T Carter F Maxwell Mrs I Eadaille 100/8
15 SWASHBUCKLER E Mercer J Jarvis Lord Rosebery 20/1
16 NULLADOR H Packham R Smyth Mr Geoff Armstrong 33/1
17 ROMANY MINSTREL Tovey Deakin Mr R N Deakin 25/1
18 MARCHE MILITAIRE W Snaith E Goddard Mr R M Bett 33/1
19 RADAR RED G Lewis Ron Smyth Mrs C Y Bennett 33/1
20 NORTH LIGHT S Millbanks T E Leader Mr H J Joel 25/1
21 TAIL WIND D Greening H Wragg Begum Aga Khan 33/1
22 NETSUKE A Shrive G Colling Col C De L Leach 33/1
23 GUNMAN W Swinburn Walwyn Mr W Stirling 33/1
24 WESTERLANDS CHAMPAGNE J Perks Stickley Mrs F Nagle 33/1
25 KELBECK Ray Reader A Waugh Mr C Jarvis 33/1
26 MAGIC CIRCLE D W Morris Davison Mrs P Hyams 20/1
This race took place on Wednesday 16th June 1954 and was won by a bay horse by Prince Chevalier out of Ann of Austria, winning a first prize of £2928 (equivalent to £82,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 500 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 1898 1899
1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954