ii8 A MIRROR OF THE TURF. 



the extent of the grounds by which it was 

 surrounded. 



The initial contest took place on Friday, May 

 14th, 1779. The terms on which the race was 

 run at the date of its institution were as follows : 

 "The Oaks Stakes of 50 gs. each, for three-year- 

 old fillies, 8 St. 4 lb., one mile and a half." Seven- 

 teen subscriptions were taken for the race, and 

 twelve of the fillies came to the starting-post, those 

 placed being : 



Lord Derby's b. Bridget by Herod, out of Jemima ... i 

 Mr. Vernon's b. Fame by Pantaloon ... ... ... 2 



Sir J. Shelly's b. Lavinia by Eclipse, out of Hyrmn ... 3 



The winning jockey was J. Goodison, and the 

 odds laid against the winner at the start 5 to 2. 

 The value of the stake would be 850 gs. 



For the Oaks of 1782 the terms of competi- 

 tion were altered to 50 gs. for each filly, with 

 40 gs. forfeit ; the owner of the second received 

 100 gs. out of the stakes, which would leave very 

 little for the winner. The twelve starters would 

 yield 600 gs,, and the non-starters would just 

 add to the account the amount to be given to the 

 owner of the animal which ran second. In 1786 

 the rubric of the race underwent another change ; 

 the following is a copy : " The Oaks Stakes of 

 50 gs. each, 8 ft., for three-year-old fillies, 8 st. 4 lb., 

 one mile and a half." As will be seen, nothing is 

 said regarding any provision for the second horse, 

 and whether or not the 100 gs. was continued 

 the writer is not able to say; in 1796, however, 

 that sum was again bestowed on the filly to which 

 the judge allocated the second position. In the 

 year 1787 the weight to be carried in the race 



