400 HISTORY OF THE 



you see no ladies at Newmarket, except a few of 

 the neighbouring gentlemen's families, who come 

 in their carriages to see a race, and then go home 

 again." 



During the early periods of racing, the best 

 horses seldom ran more than five or six times, 

 and some not so often, there being scarcely any 

 plates of note except royal ones ; and very few 

 sweepstakes or matches were made, except at 

 Newmarket, till about the year 1760. 



The great subscriptions at York did not com- 

 mence till the year 1751, and were run for by 

 ^ve year olds, lOst., four miles on the Wednes- 

 days ; 9st., two-mile heats, on the Fridays. Each 

 subscriber paid £10 yearly, for w^hich he was 

 allowed two silver tickets, viz. : one for each 

 stakes, and the tickets were transferable. Non- 

 subscribers were admitted on paying 20 gs. for 

 each horse entered, and the city of York gave 

 £50 to each day's race. The same was continued 

 for seven years, when they were renewed, with 

 Thursday's subscriptions for six years old and 

 a2:ed horses, &c. One four-mile heats and matches 

 were also begun at York about the year 1750, and 

 after that time they became general. 



At Newmarket, till the year 1744, there were 

 only two plates run for in October, viz. : the 

 King's plate and the tow^n plate ; but in 1744 the 

 trading inhabitants ofNew^market raised two plates 



