ASCOT RACES. 245 



gelding, Sharpes ; Sir Thomas Palmer's bay gelding, Lumber ; 

 and Mr. Newman's grey gelding, Have-a-Care. Like the pre- 

 ceding meeting, no records of the runners or winners of these 

 races have been preserved. 



These inaugural race-meetings at Ascot were honoured with 

 the presence of the Queen and all the Court Officials, including 

 the reigning beauty, Miss Forester, one of the Maids of Honour, 

 mounted on her " palfrey," and " dressed like a man " — that is, 

 in the equestrienne attire of the period — viz., a long white 

 riding-coat, a full-flapped waistcoat, and a small cocked hat, 

 three-cornered, bound with broad gold lace, the point placed 

 full in front, over a white-powdered, long flowing periwig. 

 This beautiful and accomplished young lady met her fate at 

 these races, and was soon after married, when the Queen pre- 

 sented her with a marriage portion of 3,000/. — the " dot " 

 always given by Her Majesty to her Maids of Honour on their 

 wedding-day. 



1712. — In the last week of July 1712 it was formally 

 announced " that Her Majesty's Plate of 100 Guineas " was 

 to be run for on Ascot Common, near Windsor, on Friday, 

 August 25, by any horse, mare, or gelding, being no more 

 than six years old the grass before, " as must be certified 

 under the hand of the breeder." The horses were to carry 

 12 stone each, in three heats, and had to be entered on the 

 Friday before the race day, between the hours of ten and two, 

 at Mr. Hancock's, on Fern Hill, near the starting-post. By 

 a further semi-official notification a Plate of 50 guineas, " by 

 subscription," was to be run for on that course on Monday, 

 September 1, by any horse, mare, or gelding, that never won 

 40/. in plate or money. The horses were to carry 12 stone 

 each in three heats, and to be entered at the Town Hall, with 

 the Town Clerk of New Windsor, on Friday, August 29. 

 Two guineas entrance had to be paid by the owners of intend- 

 ing competitors, or 6 guineas if entered at the starting-post on 

 the day of the race. The articles " to be as usual," and the 

 second horse to receive the entrance money. The Queen's 

 Plate was won by " Robert Fagg, Esq., son of Sir Robert Fagg, 



