A 217-year-old trophy awarded to the winner of a classic horse race of the age has emerged for sale for £30,000.

The 18ins piece of silverware was presented to the winner of the 1802 edition of the Richmond Gold Cup, one of the greatest Georgian flat races.

It was another 37 years before the Grand National, the highlight to today's racing calendar, was first staged in 1839.

The trophy, which has angular handles, is engraved with the name 'Richmond 1802' and the image of two galloping racehorses.

On the back, there is an engraving of a racehorse being fed outside a stable and also of the names of the race stewards Charles Brandling and Timothy Hutton.

The trophy was made by celebrated London silversmith Paul Storr who was a favourite of King George III and King George IV.

By tradition, it was paid for by general subscription and the worthy gentleman of the town with the silversmith being ordered to 'make the best cup he can for 100 guineas'.

The trophy has remained in the same family for over 200 years who have consigned it for sale with auction house Duke's, of Dorchester, Dorset.

The vendor is a descendant of Thomas Stapleton (1778-1835) who it is believed won the race that year.

Stapleton was very successful in the horse racing world and his father had close ties with Sir Thomas Gascoigne, 8th Baronet (1745-1810), who won the St Ledger and Kings Cup with a grey mare Hollandoise.

However, since no records of the 1802 race exist, it is very difficult to know for certain if he triumphed.

Lee Young, managing director of Duke's, said: "We are thrilled to be offering a Richmond Gold Cup, a race comparable to the Grand National in its day and highlight in the social calendar for the aristocracy and noble people of the north of England.

"The combination of the significance of its racing heritage, the importance of the maker Paul Storr and the fact that this trophy has remained in the family since 1802, in its original leather travelling case, is remarkable.

"I'm confident that this cup will find itself in the winners circle when it comes under the hammer."

The Richmond Gold Cup was staged over four miles at the ancient Richmond Racecourse in the rolling Capability Brown parklands of Aske Hall in north Yorkshire.

Racing continued at the venue until 1891.

The sale takes place on Thursday.