158 THE JOCKEY CLUB 1750- 



of their own, which was a great boon to race-goers, 

 for though < colours ' had been worn long before, they 

 were adopted apparently at haphazard, and without 

 discrimination or permanence. In 1767 two resolu- 

 tions were passed, one (signed by eighteen members) 

 relating to bets, the other (signed by twenty-one) re- 

 lating to the admission of members to the Coffee-room. 

 In 1768 the Jockey Club Challenge Cup was founded 

 (for horses the property of members of the Jockey 

 Club only), the subscribers being twenty-seven, ac- 

 cording to Messrs. Weatherby's * Calendar,' until 1861, 

 but altered, without explanation, in 1862, to twenty- 

 five, the former being, almost without a doubt, the 

 proper number, as will be shown hereafter. In 1769 

 there was a ' Resolution,' signed by twelve members, 

 touching entries to be made to the keeper of the 

 match-book. In 1770 there were numerous ' Resolu- 

 tions,' to the effect that ' the members of the Club 

 shall meet annually at dinner on the day preceding 

 the King's birthday ' ; that the number of stewards 

 shall be three (there having been but one steward, 

 apparently, before) ; that certain disabilities shall be 

 incurred for ' watching trials,' or causing them to be 

 watched (though, of course, there was as yet no awful 

 threat of ' warning off,' almost as tremendous as 

 < naming ' a member of Parliament) ; that bets made 

 ' from signal or indication, after the race has been 

 determined at the post,' shall be regarded as ' fraudu- 

 lent, illegal, and totally void ' ; that the age of the 



