1 78 A HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH TURF. 



to the pedigrees later on, that Mr. Wildman's b. c. Leedcs (foaled in 1756) was by 

 Second, out of a (Bolton) Starling mare ; and that the Leedes Arabian foaled in 1755 

 must also be distinguished from the imported horse mentioned above ; for he was 

 brought over by Mr. Phillips, for the Duke of Northumberland, and though he was 

 sold to Mr. Leedes of North Melford in Yorkshire, this later animal is usually called 

 the Northumberland Brown Arabian. 



Scarcely two months after Prince George had received this charming present 

 from the Queen, in 1/05, an interesting notice appears in the Gazette for June, which 

 is worth quoting at length as a proof of the interest taken by the royal couple in the 

 Turf. 



" These are to give notice that H.R.H. the Prince is pleased to give a Gold Plate, 

 value 100 gs., to be run for at Black Hambleton, in Yorkshire, over the four miles 

 old Beacon course, the last Thursday in July, by any Horse five years old last foaling 

 time. No horse to be admitted to run but such as bring a certificate from the 

 breeder of his horse's age ; and likewise to be judged and approved no older than 

 aforesaid, by the Gentlemen whose Horses run for the said Plate ; each Horse to 

 carry ten stone weight, and start at the usual hours. And His Royal Highness is 

 also pleased to give another Gold Plate, value One Hundred Gs., to be run for the 

 second Thursday in October next, one Heat over the Heat's Course at Newmarket, 

 ten stone, by Horses five years old, whose Age must be certified as aforesaid, and 

 likewise admitted by gentlemen whose horses run. This year no Mare will be 

 admitted to run for either of those Plates. Although for the future H.R.H. desires 

 to give a Plate of the like value, to be run for at each of the aforesaid Courses by 

 mares only of the said Age." 



Though 1705 seems to have been a year in which the Queen was especially 

 fond of Racing, for Luttrell again records a meeting she organised at Datchet, on 

 her return from Winchester to Windsor, the Royal Plates had been instituted before 

 this, and were of course continued afterwards ; for advertisements remain in the old 

 newspaper files of .100 in September, 1703, at Stapleton Leys, in Yorkshire, in 

 July, 1707, at Langton Wold, near Malton, in the same county, at Black Ham- 

 bleton in July, 1709, at Datchet in August of that year (,50), and at Newmarket 

 in October (,100). The Prince kept his promise too, for in October, 1709, a 

 Cup for .mares, given by H.R.H., was run for at Newmarket; in 1711, 1712, and 

 1714, over Clifton and Rawcliffe Ings ; in 1712 at Black Hambleton ; and in 1713 

 over Ascot Heath, one of the earliest mentions I know of organised sport upon that 



