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 1879 Handicap 7 furlongs 166 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Age/weight Owner
1 THE MANDARIN Charles Wood Joe Cannon aged-8st 4lbs Captain Machell 3/1
2 SIR JOSEPH Glover Weever 4-8st 3lbs Mr Leigh 20/1
3 HARBINGER Saddlington John Porter 5-6st 12lbs Mr F Gretton 20/1
4 BELPHOEBE H Jeffery George Bloss 5-8st 9lbs Lord Hartington 25/1
5 FIDDLESTRING Fred Archer Arnull 4-8st 5lbs Mr A Egerton 100/7
6 AVONTES George Fordham Alec Taylor 5-8st 3lbs Mr W S Crawfurd 5/1 fav
7 ROB ROY Huxtable Potter 5-7st 13lbs Mr J T Mackenzie 25/1
8 BONNIE SCOTLAND Constable Robert Peck 4-7st 13lbs Lord Rosebery 40/1
9 ALBERT EDWARD J Macdonald Tom Leader 5-7st 3lbs Mr W S Cartwright 10/1
10 MARSHALL SCOTT Weedon Gidney 3-7st 2lbs Lord Dupplin 40/1
11 SPECULATION Morrell Holden 5-7st 1lbs Mr C Maurice 100/1
12 MORIER Lemaire Robert Peck 5-7st 1lbs Duke of Westminster 100/8
13 CRADLE Gallon Wadlow 6-6st 11lbs Lord Wilton 100/8
14 SUNBURN R Morris Ansley 3-6st 11lbs Mr F Davis 25/1
15 MADAME DU BARRY Miles Bryan (Ire) 4-6st 10lbs Mr G Bryan 200/1
16 SON OF YORK Hind Humphreys 3-6st 7lbs Mr Sherborne 200/1
17 NOTTINGHAM Beech William Goater 3-6st 7lbs Mr Craven 200/1
18 FLASHMAN Collins Perrin 4-6st 7lbs Mr Bowes 100/6
19 RED COMYN Bell Humphreys 4-6st 7lbs Mr R M Biddulph 40/1
20 DRUMHEAD Barker Joseph Dawson 6-6st 7lbs Sir J D Astley 10/1
21 CENSER T Hopper Hopper 4-6st 6lbs Lord Stamford 20/1
22 BUTE Luke Robert Peck 3-6st 7lbs Lord Rosebery 100/6
23 CLAUDIUS Cranham Tom Brown 3-6st 4lbs Mr T Gee 200/1
24 LEGHORN Greaves Joe Cannon 3-6st 1lb Lord Calthorpe 100/6
25 COUNTESS MURRAY Beedon Holden 4-6st 1lb Mr Tom Cannon 33/1
26 CATHEDRAL colt Haywood John Ryan 3-5st 12lbs Mr J H Houldsworth 50/1
27 FLYAWAY DICK Barrett T Stevens 3-5st 10lbs Lord Bateman 50/1
28 LUCETTA Valentine Charles Blanton 3-5st 10lbs Prince Soltykoff 200/1
This race took place on Wednesday 11th June 1879 and was won by a bay horse by Lozenge out of Vishane, winning a first prize of 960 sovereigns from 66 subscriptions (equivalent to £120,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. Over round 122%
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 1866 1867 1868 1869
1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879