Royal Ascot '^ 



be entered at John Tempiro's, at Sunninghill Wells, on 

 Friday, 17th instant; the subscribers to pay i guinea 

 entrance, non-subscribers 2, or 4 at the post ; the stakes to 

 go to the second horse." 



Similar races were held in 1724, Mr. Darby's Clubfoot 

 winning the Staghunters' Plate of 30 guineas, and Lord 

 Harry Beauclair's Puppet taking the £20 Plate. Also in 

 1726 we find that Mr. Meggott's chestnut mare won the 

 Staghunters' Plate of 40 guineas, carrying 12 St.; and 

 that a ^30 Plate fell to Sir Thomas Reynolds' chestnut 

 horse. 



It was in the year 1727 that Mr. John Cheney es- 

 tablished an Annual Racing Calendar, a historical list of 

 all the horse matches run, and of all the plates and prizes 

 competed for in the United Kingdom, of the value of ^10 

 and upwards. Previous to the appearance of this register, 

 the records of Meetings were very meagre, and it is only 

 through fragmentary evidence connected with special feats 

 that we have any particulars of the doings on the Turf 



In this first volume of the Racing Calendar, mention is 

 made of two purses being contended for at Ascot, one of 

 the grand sum of 30 guineas, the other 10 guineas more. 

 These races were " For such Hunters as had been at the 

 death of a Leash of Staggs with His Majesty's Hounds in 

 Windsor Forest, between the first day of March last and 

 and the first day of running," the weight being 12 st. 

 and 10 St. respectively. 



Although George II. cared personally as little for 

 horse racing as his father had done, the Turf and all 

 connected with it made considerable progress during his 

 reign. The King gave much encouragement to the 



