SPORT ANCIENT AND MODERN 



quence, however, of the universal complaints of 

 the spectators as to the poor view of the sport 

 that was obtainable, this course was soon replaced 

 by another of an oval shape, a mile and a 

 quarter in length. Various alterations and ad- 

 ditions were subsequently made, and about the 

 middle of the 1 8th century it was claimed to be 

 one of the most commodious and complete courses, 

 both for horses and spectators, in the kingdom. 



The grand stand, which has an interesting 

 history of its own, was erected in 1777. It was 

 at the time of its erection taken as a pattern for 

 the rest of the country, and that at York is an 

 exact replica. The movement for securing this 

 much-needed building was inaugurated on 21 

 October 1776, at a meeting of noblemen and 

 other gentlemen, held at the White Lion Inn at 

 Nottingham, when a subscription list was opened, 

 no person present being allowed to subscribe less 

 than 2O gs., which entitled the subscriber to 

 two silver tickets, to be transferable, each ticket 

 to admit a lady or gentleman during the races. 

 The principal subscribers were the Dukes of 

 Newcastle, Norfolk, and Portland, and Lord 

 Edward Bentinck, 200 gs. each ; Lord Middle- 

 ton, Sir George Savile, Sir Charles Sedley, and 

 Mr. John Musters, loogs. each; Sir Gervase 

 Clifton, 60 gs.; the Earl of Stamford, Lord Mel- 

 bourne, Mr. Anthony Eyre, Mr. Abel Smith, 

 Mr. John Hewitt, 50 gs. each ; Messrs. John and 

 Thomas Wright, 40 gs. each ; and the rest, 

 thirty-two in number, 20 gs. each ; the total 

 amount raised being 2,460. To facilitate the 

 carrying out of the object of the subscribers, 

 the corporation of Nottingham granted a lease 

 of the ground to Lord Edward Bentinck and 

 others in trust for the noblemen and other gentle- 

 men of the county, the lease containing a cove- 

 nant that in the event of a Town Inclosure Act 

 being passed, such leasehold property should 

 immediately revert to the corporation. Accord- 

 ingly, under this covenant, on the passing of the 

 Inclosure Act of 1845 tne town council took 

 lea;al possession of the property, which is now 

 vested in their hands. 



On i February 1777 the foundation stone of 

 the grand stand was laid, the architect being 

 Mr. John Carr of York. According to a de- 

 scription published in a local newspaper at the 

 time, the structure was designed upon an entirely 

 new plan. The lower story was occupied by 

 tea and card rooms and other apartments, while 

 in the upper story was a large room intended 

 for entertainments. A platform, supported by 

 an arcade, was available for those who wished 

 to have an opportunity of seeing the whole of 

 the course. The lead-covered roof afforded 

 standing accommodation for 500 people. In 

 May 1907 the town council proposed to pull 

 down this grand stand, but it still remains a 

 silent witness to the old racing days on the Forest. 



With the exception of the silver ring, the 



course was always free, and the slopes, which 

 formed a natural amphitheatre, presented a re- 

 markable sight when crowded by thousands of 

 spectators. Of the eleven royal plates run for 

 in England in 1727 one was offered at Notting- 

 ham for six-year-old horses, i o St., 2-mile heats ; 

 but in 1774 they were altered to 2^-mile 

 heats, and in 1 750 for four-year-olds, 9 St., 2 j-mile 

 heats. At this period the races took place in July, 

 and they were, according to an old chronicler, 

 exceedingly popular with all classes, who, how- 

 ever, appear to have divided their allegiance to 

 racing with the other national pastimes of bull- 

 baiting and cock-fighting. Sir Charles Sedley 

 and Mr. John Borlace Warren were the life and 

 soul of the sport at this time, and the latter was 

 concerned in one of the most exciting contests 

 ever witnessed on Nottingham Forest. Mr. 

 Warren's Careless and the Duke of Devonshire's 

 Atlas were two of the most famous horses of the 

 day. They had beaten all comers, and when 

 pitted against each other at York on 30 August 

 1760 Atlas proved the winner. This verdict 

 was not accepted as conclusive, and accordingly 

 the owners determined to have a trial at Not- 

 tingham in order to see which was really the 

 best horse in England. Bred by Mr. Warren 

 at Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, Careless was a 

 chestnut horse of wonderful power and size, and 

 was indisputably favourite among local sports- 

 men, who, we are told, risked every shilling they 

 could raise upon him ; in fact, so great was the 

 interest excited in the race that a greater 

 amount of money was dependent upon the issue 

 than upon any race ever run in the Midland 

 counties. Alas for the opinions of local 

 cognoscenti ! Careless was beaten by Atlas, owing, 

 it was said, to the superior skill of the latter's 

 jockey. 



Two years later in July 1763 a very 

 distinguished and numerous company favoured 

 Nottingham with their attendance for the races 

 (and cocking), those present including such con- 

 sistent supporters of the Turf as the Dukes of 

 Rutland and Kingston, the Marquess of Granby, 

 and Lords Byron, Strange, and Sutton. From 

 1777 to 1779 inclusive the races reached the 

 zenith of their popularity. They had been 

 transferred from July to August and extended 

 over four days. A memorable day was 3 August 

 1779, for it brought to the town not only an 

 immense influx of people, but royalty in the 

 person of the Duke of Cumberland, brother of 

 George II, who was attended by the Duke of 

 Portland and a large circle of nobility. The 

 Duke of Cumberland, who had an enthusiastic 

 reception, having been presented with an address 

 and the freedom of the town proceeded to the 

 race-course. He several times spoke in praise of 

 the course, and after seeing his horse Pomona run 

 (and lose), his royal highness returned to the 

 town. 



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