92 HORSE.RACING IN ENGLAND 



was most righteously hanged on August 8, 1812. 

 ' N'obbHnof' and rumours of 'nobbHncj' we have 

 had always with us from that date, even until 

 now, but not on so gigantic a scale ; and it may 

 be said that the abominable practice reached its 

 climacteric, if it did not commence, in the reign of 

 George III. 



It was in this reign that the meetings at New- 

 markttt, which had been but two since the time of 

 Charles II., were increased to seven by the addi- 

 tion, under the auspices of the Jockey Club, which 

 had already introduced a Second Spring Meeting 

 (at which the two Jockey Club Plates were run 

 for) in 1753, of a Second October Meeting in 

 1762, of a July Meeting in 1765 (at which the 

 seal was set upon two-year-old racing by the 

 institution of the now famous July Stakes in 

 1786), of the Houghton Meeting in 1770, and of 

 the Craven Meeting (at which, in the eponymous 

 Craven Stakes, two-year-olds were first officially 

 authorized to compete with older horses), making 

 up altogether the seven annual meetings, which 

 became the usual number for very many years, 

 though it was for awhile reduced to six (the 

 Second Spring having been wisely abandoned for 



