The Royal Artillery Gold Cup is one of the oldest events in the Racing Calendar, having existed for 150 years. The inaugural event was held in 1862 at Eltham, although it was not until twelve months later that the now familiar race title came into existence. Following in the footsteps of the Grand Military Meeting, which was first held in the 1840s, the meeting immediately proved extremely popular with members of the Regiment. Lieutenant George Arbuthnot, a famous Royal Artillery Officer of the time, rode the first winner, a horse by the name of Chickahominy. Arbuthnot had a long and distinguished career in the Regiment and was recommended for the Victoria Cross during his service in India in the 1850s.
A unique event in the Racing Calendar, it is credit to the committee that the Royal Artillery Meeting is even more popular than ever. Without their foresight and fortitude, the annual gathering would surely be but a distant memory. It remains one of the Royal Artillery’s flagship days, hugely popular with the Regiment and the racing public alike and long may it continue to be so.