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 1878 Handicap 2 miles 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 NORWICH George Fordham 4-7st 3lbs Mr W S Crawfurd 4/1 fav
2 HAMPTON Fred Archer 6-9st 0lbs Lord Ellesmere 9/2
3 STRATHMORE J MacDonald 4-7st 6lbs Mr R Jardine 15/2
4 ADVANCE Constable 5-9st 0lbs Lord Lonsdale 100/7
5 CHESTERTON C Wood 4-8st 3lbs Mr J Core 100/8
6 GLASTONBURY Carlisle 5-7st 9lbs Mr R C Vyner 8/1
7 HARBINGER Morgan 4-7st 3lbs Mr F Gretton 100/8
8 ZUCCHERO H Wyatt 4-7st 3lbs Lord Bradford 100/6
9 SHILLELAGH Morrell 4-6st 11lbs Mr John Johnstone 100/8
10 HELEN MAR W MacDonald aged-6st 6lbs Mr A Yates 50/1
11 MIDA Hopper 3-6st 3lbs Duke of Westminster 100/8
12 WEST WIND Beach 3-5st 7lbs Mr F Pryor 30/1
13 MUFFIN BOY Greaves 3-5st 7lbs Duke of Hamilton 25/1
14 ROUBIGANT Bell 3-5st 7lbs Mr H Davenport 100/1
This race took place on Wednesday 31st July 1878 and was a subscription race of 25 sovereigns each. There were 56 subscribers and it was valued at 300 guineas (equivalent to £37,000 in 2021) Over round 116%