BRITISH TURF. 401 



of 50 gs. each; one for five years old, 9st., and 

 the other free for any horse, &c., 9st., four mile 

 heats ; there was also 50 gs. raised hy the con- 

 tributions of persons of property, for four-year 

 olds, 8st. 71b. each, four miles. At this period 

 there were only two meetings at Newmarket, 

 viz. : the first in April, and the other in October; 

 but in 1 753 there was a second spring meeting 

 added, in which two Jockey Club plates, and 

 several matches, were run for. 



In 1759, the weights and scales plate was 

 begun ; in 1 762 a second October meeting com- 

 menced of sweepstakes and matches ; in 1 765, 

 the July meeting; in 1770, the Houghton Meet- 

 ing; and in 1771, the Craven meeting, with a 

 subscription of 5 gs. each, 21 subscribers, called 

 the Craven stakes, for all ages, from the ditch to 

 the turn of the lands, which stakes were won 

 by Mr. Vernon's Pantaloon, beating thirteen others. 



All the above meetings are still continued, and 

 several plates and sweepstakes added to each. 



In 1727, there were only eleven royal plates 

 run for in England, viz. : one at Newmarket in 

 April, for 6 yrs. old horses, &c., 12st. heats, the 

 Round Course,^ (first called the King's Plate 

 Course ;J one for 5 yrs. old mares, lOst., one heat 

 over the Round Course ; one in October, for 

 6 yrs. old horses, 12st,, heats, the Round Course ; 



* The length of the Round Course is three miles, six furlongs, and 

 ninety-three yards. 



VOL. I. D D 



