Goodwood Stakes

The Goodwood Stakes (Handicap) is the second oldest race still staged at the Glorious Goodwood Festival having first been run in 1823 in its current format. However, some might claim that it is the oldest race, since a Goodwood Stakes over 2 miles was staged at the 1811 meeting, a year before the inaugural running of the present day Goodwood Cup, while others would assert that a Goodwood Silver Cup was first held in 1808. It is a handicap for 3-year-olds and above over 2miles 5 furlongs, although it has fluctuated between 2 miles 5 furlongs and 2 miles throughout its history, and is currently contested over 2 miles 4 furlongs and 134 yards, making it a wonderful spectacle for the crowd, as it starts in front of the stands and is the longest presently run at the Festival.
Early history:-The inaugural running of the Goodwood Stakes was on Tuesday 12th August 1823 when the Duke of Richmond's Dandizette defeated Lord Egremont's Young Gohanna colt, although on the same card the Old Goodwood Club Stakes saw Lord Egremont’s Elfrid beat Mr C Day's Victorine.
Goodwood Stakes 1872 Handicap 2 miles 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 SPENNITHORNE W Gray James Watson 4-7st 7lbs Mr W Henderson 5/2 fav
2 RICHMOND Newhouse 3-5st 12lbs Lord Durham 40/1
3 KINGCRAFT T Chaloner 5-8st 2lbs Lord Falmouth 5/1
4 PAGANINI Morris aged-9st 7lbs Mr T Smith 40/1
5 FALKLAND Wilson 5-8st 12lbs Mr J H Houldsworth 10/1
6 FINESSE Cannon 6-8st 0lbs Mr McCormack 10/1
7 WHADDON Mordan 4-7st 5lbs Mr T Staple 50/1
8 CHORISTER Fred Archer 3-7st 2lbs Mr Bruton 50/1
9 HOUGHTON Tom Jennings junior 4-7st 3lbs M Lefevre 40/1
10 KELCHBURNE Busby 3-6st 12lbs Mr C Trotter 33/1
11 CARDIGAN Constable 4-6st 12lbs Mr F Pryor 10/1
12 HIPPIAS Skelton 4-6st 7lbs Lord Wilton 33/1
13 BABEL Hatcher 4-6st 5lbs Sir F Johnstone 50/1
14 THE ADMIRAL C Payne 3-6st 0lbs Captain King 100/8
15 JACK IN THE GREEN Emerton 3-6st 0lbs Lord C I Ker 50/1
16 SURVIVOR Glover 3-5st 7lbs Mr T E Case 10/1
This race took place on Wednesday 31st July 1872 and was a subscription race of 25 sovereigns each. There were 76 subscribers and it was valued at 300 guineas (equivalent to £38,000 in 2021) Over round 109%