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 1950 Handicap 2 miles 3 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 STRATHSPEY Scobie Breasley Cannon 5-9st 0lbs Mr James V Rank 3/1 fav
2 ROYALISTE IV Doug Smith Vic Smyth Mr Robin McAlpine 9/1
3 FORESTRY Edgar Britt Boyd-Rochfort Sir H de Trafford 100/8
4 LE HERO Bill Rickaby G Laurence Mr H Stiebich 15/2
5 HILALI H Packham Digby Mohammed Bey Sultan 15/2
6 DANAE II Willie Snaith M Collins Mr L J Milne 10/1
7 LODE P Evans Barling Mr J J Astor 100/8
8 ELDORET Lester Piggott Payne Mr T G Johnson 100/8
9 HASTY MAIDEN Ray Reader P Allden Mrs J A Williams 100/8
10 BLUE FOX II Gordon Richards Marsh HH Aga Khan 100/7
11 QUERRIER D Greening W Stephenson Mr M Kingsley 100/7
12 ZANZIBAR B Rook Forester Mr G A Tachmindji 100/6
13 ETERNAL CITY T F Burn W Smyth Duke of Norfolk 20/1
14 PARKER'S PEACE T Bartlam G Bennett Mrs W R Tarrant 20/1
15 CURRAGHMORE F Barlow Dennistoun Mr P K Butler 20/1
16 FALA J Sirett Walter Nightingall Mrs R Ostrer 20/1
This race took place on Wednesday 26th July 1950 and was a subscription race of 10 sovereigns each. It was valued at £16250 (equivalent to £58,000 in 2021) Over round 140%