1751 : KECORDS OF THE RUNS — ASCOT RACES. 343 



adapted himself, like a true son of the soil, to all our national 

 sports and pastimes, and soon became proficient in hunting, 

 cricket, yachting, racing, angling, and falconry. Unfortunately, 

 he was somewhat addicted to betting ; and, according to the 

 custom of those days, he invariably had a heavy stake and a 

 wager on every run made in a cricket match.* The primary 

 cause of the fatal illness which somewhat unexpectedly carried 

 off the Prince was attributed at the time to " a blow on his 

 side with a ball about two years ago, playing at cricket, which 

 diversion he was very fond of, and 'tis thought was the occa- 

 sion of his death, having a bag [imposthume] near six inches 

 long, down his side, full of putrescence." 



Upon the whole, this season with the Royal Buckhounds 

 must have yielded better sport than some of the preceding 

 ones, 73 stags and 14 hinds having been killed and hunted 

 by the pack. 



The programme of the "Ascot Heath Races " for 1751 com- 

 prised the following events : On Tuesday, July 2, a plate 

 of 50^. value, open to any horse, mare, or gelding that had 

 been used as a regular hunter, and had been at the death of a 

 leash of stags in Windsor Forest, " and rid by his owner this 

 last season," and that never started for anything except a 

 hiTnter's plate ; to carry 12 stone, the best of three heats, and 

 to be the property of a gentleman. On Wednesday, July 3, a 

 plate of 50^. value, free for any horse, mare, or gelding ; weight, 

 10 stone ; three heats ; open to all horses, etc., that never won 

 more than 50 guineas at one time, matches excepted. On 

 Thursday, July 4, a plate of 50/., free to any horse, etc., 

 belonging to any or either huntsmen, yeomen prickers, or 

 keepers belonging to any or either of the packs of Windsor 

 Forest; each horse, etc., to carry 12 stone, saddle and bridle 



* The notorious Bubb-Doddington incident, which every writer on the 

 Hanoverian era, from Thackeray to McCarthy, has misconstrued, was a bet on 

 a run in a game of cricket. In those days what are now termed "runs " were 

 called " notches," the runs made by the batsmen having been cut or " nicked " 

 on a piece of wood. Hence, a person in speaking of losing a bet on a run, said 

 " So-and-so nicked me for so much." 



