The Royal Hunt Cup is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.
History
The event was established in 1843, and it was originally contested on a right-handed course over 7 furlongs and 166 yards. The inaugural running was won by Knight of the Whistle, with a triple dead-heat for second between Bourra Tomacha, Epaulette, and Garry Owen.
The race's distance was shortened to 7 furlongs and 155 yards in 1930, and it was extended to its present length in 1956. It is now run on a straight course, and it usually features a large field.
The Royal Hunt Cup is currently held on the second day of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting. 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.
Records
<div style="font-size:90%"> Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Master Vote â 1947, 1948
Leading jockey (4 wins):
- Charles Wood â Thuringian Prince (1875), The Mandarin (1879), Elzevir (1883), Gay Hermit (1887)
- Lester Piggott â Spaniard's Close (1963), Casabianca (1965), Kamundu (1969), Jumping Hill (1976)
Leading trainer (5 wins):
- James Jewitt â Sweetbread (1882), Elzevir (1883), Shillelagh (1888), Suspender (1892), Knight of the Thistle (1897)
</div>
Winners since 1960
- Weights given in stones and pounds.
Earlier winners
- 1843: Knight of the Whistle
- 1844: The Bishop of Romford's Cob
- 1845: Evenus
- 1846: Leaconfield
- 1847: Tragical
- 1848: Conyngham
- 1849: Collingwood
- 1850: Hagley
- 1851: Sir Charles
- 1852: Ephesus
- 1853: The Friar
- 1854: Brocket
- 1855: Chalice
- 1856: Forbidden Fruit
- 1857: Rosa Bonheur
- 1858: Hesperithusa
- 1859: King at Arms
- 1860: Crater
- 1861: Buccaneer
- 1862: Canary
- 1863: Victor
- 1864: Gem of the Sea
- 1865: Gratitude
- 1866: Attache
- 1867: Jasper
- 1868: Satyr
- 1869: See Saw
- 1870: Judge
- 1871: Valuer
- 1872: Ripponden
- 1873: Winslow
- 1874: Lowlander
- 1875: Thuringian Prince
- 1876: Hopbloom
- 1877: Cradle
- 1878: Julius Caesar
- 1879: The Mandarin
- 1880: Strathern
- 1881: Peter
- 1882: Sweetbread
- 1883: Elzevir
- 1884: Acrostic
- 1885: Eastern Emperor
- 1886: Despair
- 1887: Gay Hermit
- 1888: Shillelagh
- 1889: Whitelegs
- 1890: Morion
- 1891: Laureate
- 1892: Suspender
- 1893: Amandier
- 1894: Victor Wild
- 1895: Clorane
- 1896: Quarrel
- 1897: Knight of the Thistle
- 1898: Jaquemart
- 1899: Refractor
- 1900: Royal Flush
- 1901: Stealaway
- 1902: Solicitor
- 1903: Kunstler
- 1904: Csardas
- 1905: Andover
- 1906: Dinneford
- 1907: Lally
- 1908: Billy the Verger
- 1909: Dark Ronald
- 1910: Bachelor's Double
- 1911: Moscato
- 1912: Eton Boy
- 1913: Long Set
- 1914: Lie-a-bed
- 1915âÂÂ18: no race
- 1919: Irish Elegance
- 1920: Square Measure
- 1921: Illuminator
- 1922: Varzy
- 1923: Weathervane
- 1924: Dinkie
- 1925: Cockpit
- 1926: Cross Bow
- 1927: Asterus
- 1928: Priory Park
- 1929: Songe
- 1930: The MacNab
- 1931: Grand Salute
- 1932: Totaig
- 1933: Colorado Kid
- 1934: Caymanas
- 1935: Priok
- 1936: Guinea Gap
- 1937: Fairplay
- 1938: Couvert
- 1939: Caerloptic
- 1940: no race
- 1941: Time Step *
- 1942âÂÂ44: no race
- 1945: Battle Hymn
- 1946: Friar's Fancy
- 1947: Master Vote
- 1948: Master Vote
- 1949: Sterope
- 1950: Hyperbole
- 1951: Val d'Assa
- 1952: Queen of Sheba
- 1953: Choir Boy
- 1954: Chivalry
- 1955: Nicholas Nickleby
- 1956: Alexander
- 1957: Retrial
- 1958: Amos
- 1959: Faultless Speech
<span style="font-size:85%">* The race was run at Newbury in 1941.</span>
See also
References
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