Royal Ascot ««" 



Duke of Somerset, Master of the Horse. They can still 

 be seen in the Public Record Office, and it is curious to 

 read there the items connected with this inaugural race 

 meeting. Amongst other disbursements for the making of 

 " The round Heat on Ascott Common in July and August, 

 171 1," is an amount of ^558 19s, 5d. for nine bills of 

 particulars paid to one William Lowen ; while the carpenter, 

 a certain William Erlybrown, received the sum of ^15 2s. 8d. 

 for making and fixing the posts and other work. These 

 posts were evidently painted by a Benjamin Culchett, who 

 received the grand sum of ^2 15s. for his work, ^i is. 6d. 

 was also paid to Mr. John Grape " for engrossing the 

 Articles for Her Majesty's Plate run for at Ascott Common." 

 The Queen was evidently pleased with the success of 

 the first meeting, for we find that she attended another on 

 the Common in the same year, at which all the Court 

 officials and a brilliant company of ladies and gentlemen 

 had gathered. The reigning beauty of the period, Miss 

 Forester, one of the Maids of Honour, was there also, 

 mounted on her palfrey, and " dressed like a man," a long 

 white riding coat, a full-flapped waistcoat, and a small 

 cocked hat, three cornered, bound with broad gold lace, 

 the point placed full in front over a white powdered long 

 flowing periwig. The meeting took place on Monday and 

 Tuesday, September 17th and i8th. The programme con- 

 sisted of one race each day, a plate of 30 guineas for any 

 horse, etc., carrying 10 st,, that had never won in money or 

 plate the value of ^20, for which there were three entries : — 



Duke of Somerset's gr. h. . Crofts. 



Mr. Barber's ch. g- • • • Speed Cut. 

 Mr. Edmund's dark br. g. . . Hoboy. 



