Royal Ascot 



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Two - year - old races first came into vogue during 

 George III.'s reign, and found a permanent place in the 

 Ascot programme from the year 1796, when, in a race for 

 a sweepstakes of 20 guineas each, with 10 guineas added 

 by the Steward, His Majesty's brown colt Peeping Tom 

 came in first, the course being the last third of the new 

 mile. These 2-year-old races had at their inception 

 many devoted partisans, embracing both the old racing men 

 and the more speculative and wilder spirits of the younger 

 generation. Foremost among them might be mentioned 

 the Prince of Wales and his tutor (Lord Clermont), the 

 Duke of Oueensberry, Lord Barrymore, Mr. C. T. Fox, 

 Lord Derby, and others. 



As one reviews the social aspect of a race meeting in 

 George IIL's reign, and notes the gay doings of those 

 days, one is struck with the diversity of the entertainments 

 that were in vogue. We have already referred to cock- 

 fighting, gaming, balls, etc., that formed so important a 

 part of the summer attractions ; but it appears that, in 

 addition to these diversions, wrestling, prize-fighting, and 

 even duels were indulged in. After the races were over 

 at Ascot in 1784, a duel with pistols was fought near 

 Cranford Bridge between Mr. Rose, of Kingston, a brewer, 

 and the noted Dick England. Mr. England had won from 

 Mr. Rose at play a sum of ^200, and Mr. Rose, suspect- 

 ing that the dice were loaded, refused to part with his 

 money and a quarrel arose. Meeting on the Ascot course, 

 high words ensued between them, and they agreed to 

 settle their difference next day. A brace of pistols was 

 discharged without result, when the seconds tried to inter- 

 fere, but the combatants were not to be coerced, and were 



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