Royal Ascot ^•- 



annoyance of importunate " welshers " outside, who, being 

 debarred from the use of the ring, carried on their trade 

 as near as possible. 



Great alterations, too, were made in the Saddling 

 Enclosure. The Clerk's office was given to Messrs. 

 Weatherby, and the Press were made comfortable in the 

 room formerly occupied by that firm. The Clerk of the 

 Course had his quarters changed to a room on the 

 ground floor, connected by a glass door with the Weighing 

 room. There now being but one entrance to this 

 enclosure from the Course, and that close by the winning 

 post, a check was made on the admission. Only members 

 of the Jockey Club, Royal Household, Iron Stand sub- 

 scribers, or nominees of the Master of the Buckhounds 

 were permitted to enter. Formerly so many persons (many 

 undesirable) gained admittance as, by overcrowding, to 

 seriously interfere with business. 



The Course was considerably improved under the 

 direction of the Royal Huntsman, Mr. Charles Davis, 

 who did away with some hundreds of odd-looking trees 

 and shrubs that much interfered with the view of the 

 horses as they neared the Swinley Post. The New Mile 

 Course was widened where necessary, trees and heather 

 being removed, so as to make it of uniform breadth, 

 sufficient for 40 horses to run home abreast. Two miles 

 of new railino;s were fixed, borderinof the course on either 

 side near the stands, and also in other parts of the 

 heath. 



The Queen's Stand and Enclosure also came in for 

 their share of improvement and alteration, carried out 

 under the direction of the Commissioners of Woods and 



132 



