542 THE HOUSE. 



kind in the world. All the approaches far around exhibit a 

 moving mass of horsemen, carriages, and pedestrians, hurry- 

 ing to the spot, while all the grounds which can command 

 the course are filled with spectators. Nothing appears to 

 the eye except the excitement and delight of eager crowds ; 

 but when we mark the start, on which the fortunes of hun- 

 dreds hang, with half a million perhaps depending on the 

 result, to be decided in a few brief anxious minutes, then 

 we feel that there is something in the drama to be played 

 that must agitate many a heart. The whole spectacle is of 

 deep curiosity and interest, and to be in any degree appre- 

 ciated must be beheld. 



The races of Ascot Heath, in the county of Berks, take 

 place in the end of May, closely following those of Epsom, 

 and they last for several days. These races were established 

 by the Duke of Cumberland. They are largely attended by 

 the more opulent classes of the Capital and neighbouring 

 country. They last for several days, and deep betting takes 

 place. The favour of the Court has been especially shewn to 

 these meetings ; and, from the rank and wealth of their sup- 

 porters, it is usual to regard them as more the races of aris- 

 tocracy and fashion than any other in the kingdom. 



The Goodwood races, so named from the noble mansion of 

 the Duke of Richmond, near Chichester in Sussex, although 

 amongst the most recently established, are now the most 

 popular in the south of England. From the fineness of the 

 course, the excellence of the regulations, and the value and 

 variety of the prizes, the best horses of Newmarket are 

 brought to this course. The meeting takes place in the end 

 of July, and lasts four days. 



The races of York, instituted in the reign of Queen Anne, 

 and taking place in a district the most famous of any in Eng- 

 land for the rearing of Horses, are well supported, and the 

 money run for in Plates and Stakes is very large. The 

 course is perfectly flat : the meetings are three in the year, 

 namely, in April, August, and October. 



