OTHER SEATS OF HORSE-RACING. 37 



races being rewarded with the " cups and bels 

 provided. It will interest lovers of the turf to learn 

 that the silver bell was of the then value of three 

 shillings and fourpence. 



In a " History of Horse-racing," published in 

 1863, appears the following summary of the early 

 history of the sport at Chester: " In the year 151 1, 

 the silver bell of the value of three shillings and 

 fourpence was first run for as a prize ; in 1609 or 

 1 6 10, the bell was converted into silver ' cupps,' 

 the value of which is not stated, and from this date 

 the race was annually run for on the Rood Dee, 

 was then named and henceforth known as ' St. 

 George's Race'; and in 1623 there was another 

 alteration made in the prize run for, as in that year 

 the three cups were changed into ' one faire silver 

 cupp,' of about the value of eight pounds. With 

 regard to the prizes, the silver bell run for in 1 5 1 1 

 was apparently an absolute gift to the winner. 

 The cups offered in 1609, however, were only 

 temporary rewards, held by the winners for the 

 space of twelve months, when the holders were 

 under bond to deliver up the cups to be again run 

 for ; but they retained the amount in cash of the 

 value of the cups as subscribed for by those who 

 ran horses for the prize, and which was a condition 

 of the race. But this again was altered in 1623, 

 when the prize was once more to be held ' freely 

 for ever by the winner. ' " 



Various alterations were from time to time 

 made in the value of the Rood Dee prizes ; in 

 1629, the city companies contributed to St. 

 George's Race, to make up a certain sum of 

 money ; in the year 1640, the sheriffs contributed 

 a piece of plate of the value of ^13 6s. 8d. to be 



