Royal Ascot: Chesham Stakes (First Leg of First Triennial Stakes)

The Chesham Stakes, the opening race on the final day of the Royal meeting, is a Listed race over 7 furlongs for two-year-olds named after the 3rd Baron Chesham who served as Master of the Buckhounds in 1900-01. It was established in 1919, and it was originally contested over 5 furlongs, replacing the first leg of the Triennial Stakes which was first staged in 1848 when won by Elthiron. The race has an unusual restriction, being open only to horses sired by stallions who won over ten furlongs or more.  For a time the Chesham Stakes was contested over 6 furlongs, but was extended to 7 furlongs in 1996.
Early history:- The inaugural running of the first leg of the First Triennial Stakes over 5 furlongs, the forerunner of the Chesham Stakes, was on Tuesday 6th June 1848 when a field of 19 was headed by Elthiron, owned by Lord Eglinton, who beat Borneo and Jester by a head and the same. In 1919 the Triennial Stakes First leg was replaced by the Chesham Stakes and was run on Wednesday 18th June 1919 when Mr L Robinson's unnamed Decagone colt (7/4 fav) beat Fiddle de Dee and Pelope by 2 lengths and 3 lengths.
First Leg of First Triennial Stakes 1848 Listed race 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 ELTHIRON Marlow 2-8st 7lbs Lord Eglinton 4/1
2 BORNEO Robinson 2-8st 7lbs Lord Stradbroke 10/1
3 JESTER A Day 2-8st 7lbs Mr Gully 6/4 fav
4 CESAR Colt Marson 2-8st 7lbs Lord Clifden 20/1
5 LATCH-LUG Ford 2-8st 7lbs Mr H T Thompson 20/1
6 MOUNSEER Sly 2-8st 7lbs Major Pitt 20/1
7 GLENALVON Donaldson 2-8st 7lbs Mr F Clarke 20/1
8 DAMSON Nat Flatman 2-8st 7lbs Mr Greville 20/1
9 CLARISSA S Mann 2-8st 7lbs Mr Greville 20/1
10 HOTSPUR Crouch 2-8st 7lbs Mr J Goodwin 20/1
11 ROCHESTER H Bell 2-8st 7lbs Mr Gratwicke 6/1
12 JACK-IN-THE-GREEN F Bell 2-8st 4lbs Mr C Dorrien 25/1
13 KREMLIN Filly Whitehouse 2-8st 4lbs Mr Cooper 25/1
14 BAY MIDDLETON Colt Rogers 2-8st 4lbs Mr Combe 25/1
15 DRAKELOW W Abdale 2-8st 7lbs Lord Chesterfield 25/1
16 JEREED Colt J Sharp 2-8st 7lbs Lord Chesterfield 25/1
17 IRISH JIG F Butler 2-8st 4lbs Colonel Anson 10/1
18 TURBAN Bartholomew 2-8st 7lbs Lord Exeter 25/1
19 COLWICK Colt Fred Templeman 2-8st 7lbs Mr Mostyn 5/1
This race, the inaugural running of the Triennial Stakes, took place on Tuesday 6th June 1848 and was won by Elthiron a brown colt by Pantaloon out of Phryne, who beat Borneo and Jester by a head and the same, to win 720 sovereigns (equivalent to £86,000 in 2020).. Over round 167%
Chesham Stakes Listed race 7 furlongs 1919 (1848)
                1848