Royal Ascot <*" 



England second, and Mr. Mostyn's Pantasa third. On 

 going to scale, Mr. Day put in an objection against Blood- 

 stone, and claimed the stake on two grounds — first that the 

 winner was a 3-year-old, and secondly that it was wrongly 

 described as being by Bribastes. The objection was allowed 

 to stand until the horse had been examined, when it was 

 given, according to the unanimous opinion of the two 

 veterinary surgeons, Field and Parry, that the horse was a 

 3-year-old, and it also transpired that Mr. John Newman 

 (the trainer) engaged Bell to ride Bloodstone, and instructed 

 him "to get a taste of Old England, and then pull him 

 up; on no account to win," as the horse had some important 

 engagements, notably the St. Leger. Bell did not like his 

 orders, and after communicating them to one of his masters, 

 determined to do his best to win and expose the contemplated 

 fraud. This he was able to do eftectually, and thereby gained 

 for himself an expression of high approval from the Stewards. 

 The stakes were handed to Mr. John Day. 



We must pause now for a brief space to call attention 

 to the ereat alterations for the better that had been carried 

 out in the ordering of the Course by the Trustees since 

 the opening of the new Grand Stand. By far the most 

 radical change was the new regulation prohibiting gaming at 

 the meetings. For years the riots, brawls, and general un- 

 pleasantness caused by the class of persons patronising the 

 gaming tables had been a source of annoyance to the well- 

 disposed and fashionable people who attended the races 

 for the enjoyment of the sport. But the new police arrange- 

 ments made short work with the thimble-rig fraternity. 



Rules and regulations were made, penalties imposed, 

 systems adopted, and alterations carried out to raise the 



96 



