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



past the Stand on Sauntering Alma. Previous to the canter 

 for the Biennial, the animal started suddenly and threw 

 him heavily to the ground. It was in this year that an 

 attempt was made to use a new apparatus invented by 

 Mr. Spagnoletti, for indicating the number of starters and 

 winners. The work had been carried out by Messrs. Izant 

 & Co., but the trial was unsuccessful, although in the 

 following year improvements were effected, and the opinion 

 was given that it worked most satisfactorily. The Spagnoletti 

 Board is the one now in use at Ascot. 



The Vase, this year, was cleverly won by Siderolite, 

 while the Cup was carried off by Mr. Graham's Sabinus. 

 There was an exciting match between Siderolite and Troca- 

 dero for the Alexandra Plate, and was doubly interesting 

 in that Count F. de Lagrange, who had gone to France 

 the previous day, left instructions with Jennings not to run 

 Trocadero. Jennings, however, had faith in the Troc, 

 and telegraphed the Count that he had ventured to disobey 

 orders. Knowing that Wells on Siderolite would not be 

 likely to make the running with ten stone weight up-hill, 

 Jennings took the lead and kept it right home, thereby 

 winning for his owner more than £1000. 



A biting east wind took all the beauty out of the Ascot 

 meeting in 1871, but it was described as one of the best, 

 largest, and most brilliant on record, notwithstanding. 



In speaking of the Ascot Plate, which was instituted 

 this year, the Sporting Gazette expressed disappointment 

 that it was not called after the Master of the Buckhounds. 

 the Earl of Cork, " a graceful compliment to that dis- 

 tinguished official." The Cork Cup or Colville Handicap, 

 it was argued, would have been far more appropriate. The 



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