Royal Ascot 



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in 1609 we find records of a prize of three silver bells and 

 a sum of money being contended for. The contest was 

 called St. George's race, and the horses ran five times 

 round the " Roody." 



Other races were held near Richmond in Yorkshire, 

 and at Croydon and Newmarket. In fact, under the 

 Stuarts, racing received royal favour, and great improve- 

 ment was made in the breeding of horses. As a popular 

 amusement, too, the sport was welcomed by the public, 

 system was attempted in the racing arrangements, and 

 altogether there was a distinct upward trend in the fortunes 

 of the Turf James I. greatly encouraged racing, and it 

 is said that his passion for horse breeding and racing came 

 about accidentally. During the storm which wrecked the 

 Spanish Armada, some horses that had been thrown over- 

 board reached the coast of Galloway, and were there 

 kept by the country folk. When the King was in Ireland, 

 the Spanish horses were tried in a r?ice against the King's 

 native animals, and proving superior in speed were obtained 

 for the royal stables. 



James I. lent his support to several meetings, and it 

 would seem that he acted as Clerk of the Course at Lincoln, 

 in 1607, causing a piece of ground, 450 yards long, to be 

 " raled and corded with ropes and hoopes '' on both sides, 

 in order that the horses " that ronned were seen fayre." 

 He also attended meetings at Enfield and Croydon, and 

 appears to have given marked attention to the course at 

 Newmarket, and had a house built for himself there, 

 which he could occupy as a hunting lodge as well as a 

 centre for indulging his fancy for horse racing. Charles I. 

 continued what his predecessor had begun, and extended 



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