Royal Ascot: Royal Hunt Cup

The Royal Hunt Cup was established in 1843, originally contested on a right-handed course over 7 furlongs and 166 yards, although the race's distance was shortened to 7 furlongs and 155 yards in 1930, but was then extended to its present length in 1956. It is now run on a straight course on the second day of the Royal meeting, and usually features a large field. It is one of three perpetual trophies at the meeting, along with the Gold Cup and the Queen's Vase, which can be kept permanently by the winning owners.
Early history:- The inaugural running took place on Wednesday 14th June 1843 when won by Lord Chesterfield's Knight of the Whistle (5/1), with a triple dead-heat for second between Lord Milltown's Bourra Tomacha (20/1), Mr Balchin's Epaulette (20/1) and Colonel Peel's Garry Owen (12/1).
Royal Hunt Cup 1865 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 GRATITUDE H Covey Robinson 5-7st 8lbs Mr W Robinson 6/1
2 CAMBALL Peak Joseph Hayhoe snr 3-6st 12lbs Baron Rothschild 33/1
3 UNION JACK Custance Morris 4-8st 12lbs Mr W Morris 5/2 fav
4 PEON George Fordham 4-7st 11lbs Mr R Ten Broeck 12/1
5 BLACK DRAUGHT A Carter 3-6st 3lbs Mr R Sutton 40/1
6 MASTER RICHARD T French 4-8st 11lbs Colonel Baillie 25/1
7 PRINCE PLAUSIBLE Bradley aged-8st 3lbs Count Batthyany 50/1
8 GEM OF THE SEA J Mann 5-8st 3lbs Captain King 50/1
9 FLATTERER J Carter 4-8st 2lbs Mr G Fleming 50/1
10 SANDAL J Grimshaw 4-7st 13lbs Lord Wilton 25/1
11 BLUE MANTLE J Daley 5-7st 13lbs Captain D Lane 14/1
12 WINDHAM Challoner 4-7st 12lbs Captain Gray 100/7
13 HARCOURT C Gray 4-7st 9lbs Mr J B Morris 50/1
14 BALHAM Morris aged-7st 9lbs Mr J B Morris 50/1
15 HISTORIAN S Adams 4-7st 9lbs Sir F Johnstone 20/1
16 VABALATHUS Parry 4-7st 7lbs Mr George Angell 50/1
17 LUCKY STAR S Mordan 4-7st 5lbs Captain Machell 50/1
18 BALDWIN Hibberd 5-7st 2lbs Lord Palmerston 50/1
19 FINESSE Loates 4-7st 0lbs Lord Annesley 50/1
20 SWORDSMAN Grace 3-6st 10lbs Mr S Thellusson 25/1
21 LADY WILLIAMS Phillips 4-6st 6lbs Mr John Powney 50/1
22 ST FAGANS H Sharp 3-6st 4lbs Mr W S Cartwright 50/1
23 PROVISOR Tribe 3-6st 3lbs Mr W G Craven 40/1
24 PILGRIM G Sopp 3-6st 0lbs Mr James Merry 50/1
25 KROMESKI Wyatt 4-5st 7lbs Mr R Ten Broeck 50/1
This race took place on Wednesday 14th June 1865 and was won by a bay colt by Newminster out of Charity, winning a first prize of 1000 sovereigns from 80 subscriptions (equivalent to £127,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. Over round 114%
Royal Hunt Cup Handicap 1 mile 1843
      1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849
1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859
1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865