-♦ Reign of Queen Victoria, 1 837-1 901 



inside and out. The Queen was greatly interested in 

 the races, and showed herself much pleased with the 

 joyful acclamations of her people. 



It was the gratification felt at the youthful Queen's 

 presence that saved the success of Ascot in this year ; 

 for, in spite of the first-class nominations for the Ascot 

 Stakes and Cup, and the large sums contributed by the 

 fund, the number of competing horses was unusually 

 small. The gathering on the Course was the greatest 

 since Zinganee's year, and was exceedingly well ordered, 

 the new police arrangements being most successful. 



We now come to an important period in the history 

 of Ascot Race Course itself Whatever may be said for 

 the arrangements that were made for the accommodation 

 of the racing public, it must be conceded that the build- 

 ings in use in 1837 were singularly inconvenient and 

 inadequate ; the turf also was bad, and had it not been 

 for the Royal patronage it enjoyed, Ascot would have 

 had no pretensions to rank among the first-class courses. 

 But now the wide and comprehensive improvements 

 which had been commenced under the scheme of the 

 previous year, were to receive much further development. 

 To begin with, it was felt that the old Betting Stand 

 of Slingsby, erected so long ago, was inadequate for 

 present requirements, and that a permanent Grand Stand 

 of greater capacity was necessary. A site was accordingly 

 selected immediately between the Royal Stand and the 

 old Betting Stand. At the same time, all the broken- 

 down old buildings on the heath opposite the Royal 

 Stand were removed, and a commodious range of 

 buildings was erected on the south side of the course, 



77 



