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 1850 Listed race 5 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 MISIERRIMA Whitehouse Mathew Dawson 2-8st 4lbs Lord J Scott 6/1
2 MR MERRYMAN Sim Templeman 2-8st 7lbs Mr Halford 8/1
3 CNAEUS Charles Marlow 2-8st 7lbs Lord Eglinton 3/1
4 LOUIS NAPOLEON Pearl 2-8st 7lbs Mr Merry 20/1
5 CATALPA Nat Flatman 2-8st 4lbs Mr John Payne 20/1
6 KNOOK KNOLL W Abdale 2-8st 7lbs Mr Stebbing 8/1
7 AUSTRALIND Alfred Day 2-8st 7lbs Mr J Powney 8/1
8 FORTUNA Bartholomew 2-8st 4lbs Mr Forth 4/1
9 COTICULA Job Marson 2-8st 4lbs Lord Clifden 5/2 fav
10 MELITA Norman 2-8st 4lbs Lord Exeter 20/1
11 STAPLEFIELD Simpson 2-8st 7lbs Mr George Osbaldeston 20/1
12 HESSE HOMBURG S Rogers 2-8st 4lbs Mr Gratwicke 20/1
13 GINEVRA S Mann 2-8st 4lbs Mr Charles Greville 20/1
14 VELOCIPEDE colt F Butler 2-8st 7lbs Sir G Heathcote 20/1
This race took place on Tuesday 11th June 1850 and was won by a bay filly by Pantaloon out of Phryne to win 610 sovereigns from 51 subscribers (equivalent to £83,000 in 2020).. Over round 155%
Chesham Stakes Listed race 7 furlongs 1919 (1848)
                1848 1849
1850