NEWMARKET 37 



in front of us two hundred yards away, and parallel with 

 the " Ditch," is a long, narrow plantation of beech, which 

 separates the heath from the Heath Stud Farm. Between 

 the " Ditch " and the plantation lies the July or Summer 

 Course, with its stands, enclosures, and paddocks. Looking 

 further away beyond the corner of the plantation one 

 can see the Round Course, and to the right of this one 

 can almost discern the starting-post of the Beacon Course, 

 though it is nearly three miles from where we stand. The 

 Caesarewitch starting-post is seen plainly enough about a 

 mile away, and the eye can follow the line of the course 

 through " Choke Jade " named on the lucus a non lucendo 

 principle, because being downhill it is really the easiest 

 bit of the course down to the " running gap." If we 

 face round and look to the west, before us are stretched 

 hundreds of acres of grassy heath. The Rowley Mile Stands 

 are right in front of us, nearly a mile away, beyond them 

 is the Southfields Ground, and beyond that again the South- 

 fields Farm. On fine days in the dim vista one can espy 

 the towers of Ely Cathedral, and much nearer the spire 

 of Burwell Church. Exning nestles amongst the trees, 

 beyond the Southfields Farm, and looking over the top 

 of Newmarket, the Bury Hills and Limekilns are easily 

 discernible, these being the names of the two other portions 

 of the heath. To the right of the road, and just beyond 

 the "Ditch," lies the Links Farm, with its steeplechase 

 course, stands, and paddock complete, as recently made 

 by Mr. McCalmont, M.P., of Cheveley Park, and all this 

 side of the town, i.e. from the beginning to the end of 

 the Beacon Course, is what is generally known as " the 

 Cambridge side." 



All the Newmarket racecourses are on the Cambridge 

 side of the town, and there are three sets of stands 

 and no fewer than seven finishing-posts. In addition, at 

 least one-half of the training takes place on this side. The 

 training gallops are not done on the racecourses themselves, 

 but immediately alongside, and what is known as the 

 Cambridge Hill is the most popular gallop on this side 

 of Newmarket. There is also a tan gallop of nearly two 



