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 1961 Handicap 7 furlongs 155 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 KING'S TROOP G Lewis Hastings-Bass Mrs P Hastings 100/7
2 ROBSON'S CHOICE Des Cullen E Goddard Mr V Brunt 33/1
3 MIDSUMMER NIGHT II Duncan Keith Hastings-Bass Mr Paul Mellon 33/1
4 PHEIDIPPIDES L Piggott M Pope Mr B Shine 22/1
5 DINZEO Breasley G Richards Mr Michael Sobell 7/1 fav
6 ARION J Sime S Hall Mr J Phang 10/1
7 FULSHAW CROSS E Cracknell Wallington Mr T Ohlson 100/7
8 GIVENAWAY D Smith F Winter Mr W Ellis 100/7
9 NICE GUY R Hutchinson P Prendergast Mr J Mullion 100/7
10 STUPOR MUNDI W Carr Boyd-Rochfort Mr T Gray 100/6
11 RIGHT OF WAY E Hide Elsey Sir J Musker 20/1
12 POLO J Wilson Boyd-Rochfort Mr J Whitney 20/1
13 JOHN'S COURT B Lee E Cousins Mr K Wheldon 25/1
14 JEANNE MICHELLE V Mitchell B Foster Mr E Prime 25/1
15 LOMBARD J Lindley Ryan Jarvis Mr R Lamb 25/1
16 ZANZIBAR E Smith J Oxley Captain P Dunne 25/1
17 CHINO Klimscha Gearing Mrs J Collins 28/1
18 SMALL SLAM R P Elliott Barling Mr P King 28/1
19 WELSH RAKE E Larkin J Jarvis Lord Milford 28/1
20 KING'S MESSENGER J Mercer Beasley Sir H Dawson 33/1
21 SANCTUM W Rickaby A Smyth Mr F Rowe 33/1
22 GUITARIST F Durr H Jelliss Mr C Page 33/1
23 LE LEVANSTELL W Williamson S McGrath Mr J McGrath 33/1
24 PARDONER P Tulk J Waugh Mr R McAlpine 33/1
25 FUEL D Ward R Mason Mr R Mason 33/1
26 ROYAL JESTER McIntosh Boyd Mr C Tosh 40/1
27 MISS CAROLINE Robinson H Wragg Mrs D Bailey 40/1
28 BABU C Jones Les Hall Mr J Ismay 50/1
29 KING'S ROCK T Carter K Cundell Mr J Bilimeir 50/1
30 POWDER ROCK Cordrey Budgett Mrs H Renshaw 50/1
31 CINGLE B Jones Langley Mr J W-Evans 50/1
32 BOLSHOI D W Morris F Maxwell Mr N Collin 50/1
33 WHEATLEY Reader G Todd Sir William Cooke 50/1
34 EARL MARSHALL Povall Eric Cousins Mr W Robinson 50/1
35 LA BOHEME D East V Cross Mr C Stamp 50/1
36 FLYING BEE F N George Nightingall Mrs D Honner 50/1
37 TANT MIEUX L C Parkes Reavey Mrs T Stuck 50/1
38 COCKATAIL Greening M Feakes Mrs L Baerlein 50/1
39 RATIFIA David Yates P=Gallwey Lt-Col Illingworth 50/1
This race took place on Wednesday 14th June 1961 and was won by a bay horse by Princely Gift out of Equiria, winning a first prize of £4050 (equivalent to £92,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 500 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. Over round 150%
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 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
1960 1961