Royal Ascot <*- 



been the usual four days' sport, one race on each day. In 

 1754, a purse of ^50 for hunters was won by Mr. Jennison's 

 grey horse, Why Not, and a purse of £go for 4-year- 

 olds, fell to a colt belonorinor to the Duke of Cumberland. 

 The Yeoman Prickers' Plate of ^50 resulted in a victory 

 for Mr. Ives's brown gelding Warhawk, while the Duke of 

 Cumberland's grey horse Crab walked over for a Free 

 Plate of ^50. The Duke, however, refused the prize, and 

 ordered it to be competed for by " horses that had not 

 had a sweat. ' 



The year 1755 saw a good meeting. A £^0 give-and- 

 take, weight for inches, for horses, etc., such as had not 

 won that amount during the year, was introduced, when 

 Mr. Leeson's chestnut gelding, Bly, 14 hands ^ in., 9 st. 

 1 1 lb. 12 oz., was first; and Mr. Marshall's grey gelding, 

 Greystag, second, with same height and weight. 



In 1756 the programme showed an increase in the 

 stakes, and an exciting contest for a purse of 100 guineas 

 was made between Mr. Ralph Jennison's Why Not and 

 the Marquis of Rockingham's Anacreon, resulting in a win 

 for the former. Mr. Ives again pulled off the Yeoman 

 Prickers' Plate with Warhawk. The Duke of Cumberland's 

 Crab also gained for his owner a plate of £^0, beating Earl 

 Gower's Little Davy. 



The frequenters of Ascot in 1 768 were greeted with 

 notices to the effect that, in addition to the exhilaration of 

 the racing, " their most obedient, humble servant, R. Hodges, 

 would open the Assembly Rooms at Sunninghill, Windsor 

 Forest, Berks, with a public breakfast on June 13th, 

 and would continue to do so every Monday throughout the 

 season, for the reception of ladies and gentlemen who would 



30 



