THE TRAGEDY OF ASCOT 41 



Among those entered were, besides the subject of 

 this sketch, Presto II, the only horse who had hitherto 

 finished in front of her ; Clyde, a famous French mare ; 

 Cicero, a winner of the Derby ; Challacombe, a winner 

 of the St. Leger ; St. Denis, a winner of the Princess 

 of Wales's Stakes ; Great Scot, a winner of the 

 Viceroy's Cup ; and Bachelor's Button, who may very 

 fairly be described as the best handicap horse then in 

 training, and who had recently shown himself to be 

 in form by winning the Manchester Cup. 



The French horses eventually declined the contest, 

 which ultimately was confined to five — Pretty Polly, 

 Cicero, Achilles, St. Denis (who was started to make 

 the running for his stable companion), and Bachelor's 

 Button. 



The Ascot Meeting had opened very brilliantly as 

 far as the weather was concerned, as it was excessively 

 hot all four days, and the course by Cup Day was as 

 hard as a turnpike road. 



Nature does not seem to have intended the Royal 

 Heath for a racecourse, as the going generally appears 

 to be either exceedingly hard or exceedingly holding 

 according to the prevalent weather conditions. 



Of all the four days, Cup Day was perhaps quite the 

 hottest and the most sweltering. 



On arrival at the course there were certain rumours 

 about as to Pretty Polly, and there was some idea in the 



