Goodwood History

Horses have raced at Goodwood since at least the 1740s, and perhaps earlier. A painting in the Goodwood Collection from that period shows the second Duke of Richmond surveying a race in the grounds, with Chichester Cathedral in the backdrop. The Duke’s passion for the turf came from his father, the first Duke of Richmond, who rode at Newmarket aged fourteen, and his grandfather, King Charles II, who rode, set out the rules, and rebuilt the royal Palace at Newmarket. Until the very early nineteenth century, race meetings at Goodwood were private affairs, organised between the Dukes of Richmond and their friends and neighbours. In 1801, a private meeting held by the third Duke of Richmond for the Sussex Militia prompted a change. The meeting’s success drove the third Duke to hold the first public meeting the following year. This saw an exciting head-to-head between Cedar, owned by the third Duke, and Rebel, who belonged to the future King George IV. Rebel was victorious! From then on, the Goodwood meeting took place every summer, becoming a firm fixture in the racing calendar The fourth Duke of Richmond introduced the Goodwood Cup in 1812, and the fifth Duke of Richmond, influenced by his great friend Lord George Bentinck, threw resources into the racecourse, including major earthworks in 1829 to extend the racecourse to the foot of the Trundle. Innovations included the pre-race parade of horses and public saddling, designed to hinder the skulduggery that went on behind the scenes and with which the sport was rife. From those early days, ‘Glorious Goodwood’ – as the press dubbed the meeting – became a highlight of the English summer season. King Edward VII, who attended every year, famously described it as ‘a garden party with racing tacked on’ and helped relax the dress-code from the more formal morning coats and top hats to straw hats and lounge suits. The King also exhibited his colourful wardrobe, on one occasion matching a pink shirt with lavender gloves. The meeting became the place to debut new styles, and for women, show off the latest gowns and hats. For everyone, Goodwood became the final fling of the season before all departed for Cowes Regatta on the Isle of Wight or the Highlands of Scotland. For much of its early history, racing took place over three consecutive days (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday), with Tuesday being added later. Under the tenth Duke of Richmond, Saturday racing was introduced and the race programme enlarged from four to twenty days across the season. Today, Goodwood is rightly hailed as the most beautiful racecourse in the world and the place where many of the greatest racehorses have battled it out on the top of the South Downs.

Racing in Goodwood Park, 1740s, is the earliest surviving depiction of racing taking place on the Goodwood Estate. It shows the second Duke of Richmond, dressed in a fine blue knee-length coat, embellished with gold brocade thread, surveying the scene. Sarah, Duchess of Richmond stands to the right of him, and in the background is the spire of Chichester Cathedral.

Racehorses Exercising at Goodwood by George Stubbs, 1759-60, depicting Mary, Duchess of Richmond watching her husband, the third Duke of Richmond’s, racehorses galloping on the estate. The Duchess is accompanied by Richard Buckner, the Estate Steward, and her sister-in-law, Lady Louisa Lennox.

In 1827, the fifth Duke of Richmond had his first classic success with Gulnare in the Oaks. The horse is seen here with his trainer, John Kent, and jockey, Frank Boyce, in the Richmond racing colours of yellow and red.

The 1884 winner of the Goodwood Cup, St Simon, was an outstanding racehorse, who was later referred to as the most influential stallion of the late Victorian and Edwardian era.

The Lawn at Goodwood, by Walter Wilson and Frank Walton, 1886, showing the racecourse and stand in the late nineteenth century. Amongst the crowd are leading aristocrats and celebrities of the day, including the composers, Gilbert and Sullivan. The sixth Duke of Richmond can be seen helping Lady Leveson Gower climb up the grass step.

Raceweek house party at Goodwood in 1904 with Edward VII and the seventh Duke of Richmond seated towards the middle. In 1904, the King took advantage of the custom that male fashion would follow the monarch and turned up with a white silk top hat instead of the regulation black one. This was all part of his plan to relax the dress code. Male followers of fashion hurried back to London to beg their hatters to supply the ‘royal model’ overnight!

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a frequent visitor to Goodwood, and is here shown with the ninth Duke of Richmond during raceweek in 1961. Her Majesty had many winners at Goodwood, including Apprentice in 1965 and Gaulois in 1966, both of whom won the Goodwood Cup. Her Majesty’s final winning racehorse was at Goodwood.

EAST ENTRANCE

Accessibility

Wheelchair Viewing Area

Information Point

Racecourse Reception

Parent and Baby Room (ground floor)

Seating Area

Bus Terminal

Children’s Crèche

Richmond Enclosure

Dining and Hospitality

The Charlton Hunt

Owners and Trainers’ Restaurant

The Longview

The Double Trigger Restaurant

The Horsewalk

The Secret Garden

The Lookout

Private Entertaining

March Stand Boxes

Relaxed Eateries

March Coffee Shop

Bars

Veuve Clicquot Champagne and Seafood Bar

Annual Badge Holders Bar

1812 Bar and Conservatory

The Oak Tree Lawn Bar Presented by Whispering Angel

Owners and Trainers’ Pavilion

The Gusbourne Pavilion

Gordon Enclosure

Dining and Hospitality

The Final Furlong

The Sussex Roof Garden Bar - pre-bookable

The Sussex Lounge Bar - pre-bookable

Private Entertaining

Sussex Boxes

Relaxed Eateries

Sussex Canteen

Sussex Café

March Café

Bars

The Nicholson Gin Pavilion

The Brixton Brewery Craft Bar

The Earl’s Lawn

The Sussex Bar

The Sussex Roof Terrace Bar

The Coral Sports Beer Garden

The Sussex Garden Bar

Sip & Saddle Bar

Lennox Enclosure

KERB Street Food Bars

The Lennox Lawn Bar