POSTSCRIPT. 399 



each successive season, with the Royal Buckhounds in the hunting 

 field. The early history of this race meeting is, therefore, closely 

 affiliated with our leading subject, and we believe our compilation of 

 those races during the pre-calendar period will be found novel and 

 interesting. After 1760 the results of the sport at Ascot come out 

 year by year in Weatherby's Racing Calendar, from which it appears 

 that the last Plate run for there by the Royal Hunt sei'vants took 

 place in 1784, and the Plate for hunters belonging to the followers 

 of the Pack who had taken " tickets " in that season, was run for 

 the last time in 1817. And it is a singular circumstance that in 

 April 1817, by the award of the Commissioners, and in compliance 

 wdth the directions of the Acts of Parliament,* " the Race-Course at 

 Ascot Heath, and the proper avenues thereto," were directed "to 

 be kept and continued as a race-course for the public use at all 

 times, as it had usually been." It therefore appears that Ascot 

 has the honour to be the only racecourse in this country which is 

 dedicated to the public for ever by Act of Parliament. " The Royal 

 Hunt Cup " pei-petuates the old association of the race meeting with 

 the Buckhounds, and we pray it may continue so '' for ever and a 

 day." 



The liberal patronage conferred on the meeting by the Royal 

 Family and the Public, in the opinion of the Compiler, is not suffi- 

 ciently appreciated by the executive. The " management," in view 

 of modern requii'ements, is defective in almost every detail. Take, 

 for instance, the last reunion ; the old popular fee for admission to 

 the public stand was doubled. At the extremity of this stand, what 

 appears to be a huge gasometer has been erected, effectually obstruct- 

 ing the view of the races run on the T. Y. C. and the Straight Mile 

 courses. Except to the fortvmate few in the immediate front row, 

 nothing can be seen of the finish of the races rvin on the Cup and 

 other courses, from the bend in, particularly when the horses incline 

 to the near side. The parentage of the two-year-old colts and fillies 

 (many of which are maidens) should be inserted and it is desirable 

 that the colours of the jockeys should be given correctly on the card. 

 With a proper public stand, " replete with all modern improvements," 

 popular prices, and an efficient C. C, there is no reason why the 

 surplus revenue of the Ascot Race Meeting might not be allocated 



* See Statutes 53 George III., c. 158—55 George III., c. 122— .'SS George III, 

 c. 132. Also, 2, 3, and •!, Reports of the Commissioners of Woods, etc., March 

 1816 and June 1819 ; and the Award of the Commissioners, April 1817. 



