-■9^ 



Institution and Early Growth 



The Royal Family have always been staunch patrons 

 of the race meetings on Ascot Heath, and the example set 

 by George III. has been carried on by his descendants. 

 The brilliancy of Ascot week was, and is now, due in a 

 large measure to the interest the Royal house has ever 

 taken in the sport of kings, and, in the opening years of 

 the last century the jDresence of the old King in his 

 Windsor uniform, with the Queen and Princesses in white 

 in the Royal marquee, drew together a very brilliant and 

 loyal company. The racing itself, however, was distinctly 

 poor and the programme small ; in 1802 the racing started 

 at I o'clock and was all over by 4.30. There were, 

 however, a greater number than ever of hazard and gaming 

 tables, and gambling went on until well into the night, and 

 perhaps this was the reason that in the following year a 

 notice was issued prohibiting the erection of any gaming 

 table on the course. 



We have seen how Ascot from very small beginnings 

 was gradually assuming an important place of honour in 

 the list of English race courses, and a further step was 

 taken in the ladder of fame when, in 1807, the race for 

 Gold Cup was instituted. The appearance of the Heath 

 was in keeping with the auspicious occasion. An elaborate 

 pavilion and two marquees had been erected for the use 

 of the Queen and Princesses at the turn of the course, 

 while opposite the Judge's Box was another for the Prince 

 of Wales. On the right side of the course was a long row 

 of booths with stands over, and opposite was space for 

 carriages and horsemen. 



There was a very large concourse of people, and 

 crowds of sociables, barouches, landaus, and landaulets 



53 



