THE RACE-HOE SE. 541 



his day, who enlarged the mansion-house, and beautified the 

 domain. In 1779 he established the Oak Stakes, so named from 

 his seat, and in the following year the Derby, both of which 

 have been run for ever since, forming the most popular races in 

 the kingdom. The racing-ground is on the Downs. The new 

 course, termed the Derby, is a mile and a half, somewhat in 

 the form of a horse-shoe ; the first three-quarters of a mile 

 are nearly straight, the next quarter of a mile forms a gradual 

 bend, corresponding with that of the shoe, and the last half 

 mile is straight. The first part of the course, for about half 

 a mile, is an ascent ; the next third of a mile is level ; the 

 remainder is on the descent, until within the distance, when 

 the ground rises again to the winning-post. The subdivision 

 courses are, the new Two-year-old Course, T. Y. C., of six fur- 

 longs ; the old T. Y. C., of somewhat less than four ; and the 

 Craven Course, one mile and a quarter. The Great Stand, 

 erected in 1830, is capable of containing between seven and 

 eight thousand persons ; and various minor stands line the 

 course to a distance, while innumerable temporary ones are 

 erected during the period of the race. The first spring 

 meeting, of minor interest, takes place in April ; the great 

 meeting, at which the Derby, the Oaks, the Craven, and 

 other stakes are run for, commences on the Tuesday, and 

 continues until the end of the week preceding Whitsuntide. 

 The Derby is run for on Wednesday, the Oaks on Fridav. 

 The Derby stakes, for a mile and a half, are fifty sovereigns 

 each, for three -year- old colts carrying 8 st. 71b., and for 

 fillies carrying 8 st. 21b. The Oaks offer the same condi- 

 tions for fillies carrying 8 st. 4 Ib. These races excite intense 

 interest; and the winning of the Oaks or Derby is an object 

 of the first ambition to all connected with the English Turf. 



These popular races present, it may be believed, an ap- 

 pearance very different from that of the quiet order and 

 business-like' arrangements of Newmarket. Here we are in 

 contact with a vast city, pouring forth its countless multi- 

 tudes to enjoy a spectacle. The scene is unequalled in its 



