CHAPTER VIII 



THE FOUNDING OF THE GRAND STAND, ASCOT, ETC. 



William the Fourth, although the inheritor of his late 

 brother's horses, was never fond of horse-racing, but yet 

 did all in his power to promote the prosperity of the Turf. 

 He established a new and original challenge-prize, which 

 was the hoof of EcUpse, most elegantly mounted. 

 After the annual dinner given by the King to the Jockey 

 Club at St James's Palace, May i6, 1832, when covers 

 were laid for seventy, an agreeable event surprised the 

 guests. The company included the leading patrons of the 

 Turf. The hoof of Eclipse in a costly mounting, in the 

 middle of a gold salver wiih the Royal arms in gold in 

 high relief, was presented by His Gracious Majesty to the 

 Club. The hoof was supported by a golden pedestal, on 

 one side of which was engraved, ' This piece of plate, with 

 the hoof of Eclipse, was presented by His Most Gracious 

 Majesty, William the Fourth, to the Jockey Club, May, 

 1832.' 



About this time lived Mr Bowles, whose fame and 

 reputation were widely known. He was the first veterinary 

 surgeon who treated the diseases of horses| in a scientific 

 manner, and who possessed not only extraordinary skill 

 in his profession, but also a large fund of common sense. 

 He was often heard to say, ' Let a man make himself 



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