Royal Ascot -^ 



lo St., came in for well-deserved praise for winning the 

 new Alexandra Plate, over the three-mile course, beating 

 Lord Glasgow's b. c. Strafford by a short head. This was 

 the first time that a bonus of ^looo had been added to a 

 stake, an outward and visible sign of the great increase 

 in popularity, and therefore in wealth, that had accrued to 

 the Governors of the Royal Course. 



Ascot Races now seemed on the high wave of success, 

 and year by year it became necessary to enlarge, alter or 

 repair the buildings and the Course, in order to keep pace 

 with the popularity it was enjoying. Thus a new stand, 

 known as the Alexandra Stand, was erected adjoining the 

 Grand Stand, commanding an excellent view of the Course. 

 Private boxes and several hundreds of stalls were made 

 in this and the Grand Stand, the Stewards' enclosure was 

 enlarged, and a saddling paddock made at the western 

 end of the Stand. Stables also for royal horses, and ac- 

 commodation for the carriages were built at the back of 

 the paddock. Then a building for the police was erected 

 at the back of the Master of the Buckhounds' Stand in 

 close proximity to the Magistrates' room and cells, and 

 was built to accommodate loo policemen, besides officers 

 and inspectors. The Jockey Club Stand was embellished 

 with the addition of a spacious balcony, and the other 

 buildings were entirely redecorated. 



With the improvements year by year and the increased 

 added money put to the stakes, the Trustees found them- 

 selves temporarily grounded for money, and in 1867 a cry 

 was raised that the management were in financial straits. 

 The outlook was serious and the future micjht have been 

 disastrous to the Royal Course had not the Trustees, in 



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