Royal Ascot ^ 



exorbitant prices be it said), provisions, drinks, and every 

 necessary " for the Peer, Peasant, and Lady of Quality." 

 A feature of Ascot, now happily done away with, was 

 the open gambling that was indulged in. Scattered about 

 amongst the canvas buildings were some dozen marquees 

 devoted to gaming, where every visitor was welcomed, and 

 all could try their fortune with copper, silver, or gold. 

 These gaming tables were usually owned by three or four 

 proprietors who, somehow, arranged matters that the 

 profits fell to the establishment, while the losses were 

 pocketed by the " braves" of the time. The tables were 

 licensed by the authorities, who levied a charge of as 

 much as 1 2 guineas a table, and in 1 796 let the gold 

 table for the sum of 40 guineas, the money thus 

 obtained going towards the Prize Fund. 



In place of a Grand Stand stood a row of some thirty 

 to forty towering booths, in which were gathered the flower 

 of English nobility, beauties of the first distinction, and 

 the most celebrated personages in the Kingdom, together 

 with the pick-pockets, sporting blacklegs, and well-known 

 " sharks " that added a spice of risk and adventure to the 

 proceedings. The King and his family occupied two 

 elegant marquees, specially erected for their reception. 

 In fact. Ascot was quite as fashionable then as it is 

 to-day, and the scene when the King and Queen, with 

 the Prince of Wales and their retinue, passed between 

 the lines of booths was one of great magnificence. 



Another feature, and one that to some extent we have 

 lost sight of since the advent of railway travelling, was 

 the extraordinary collection of vehicles gathered near the 

 course, the gorgeous turn-outs from London, the coaches, 



44 



