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



was greatly respected by all those with whom he had 

 to do. 



The 1886 meeting will be remembered most for the 

 attendance on the Friday. Ascot Friday at one time was 

 a very poor day, there was a general air as of glories 

 that had departed, a kind of black look like the morning 

 after the carnival. Now things are different, and the 

 interest of the Alexandra, Hardwicke, and Wokingham 

 Stakes often makes it a superior day to the others. 

 There was a universal desire to see Ormonde and Melton 

 meet in the Hardwicke Stakes. It was a fine race. Melton, 

 the winner of the Derby, was ridden by Archer ; Ormonde, 

 who had already won for the Duke of Westminster over 

 ^16,000, was under the guidance of Barrett. The whole 

 race was centred in these two ; from the start they 

 remained close together until nearing the straight for home, 

 then Ormonde drew to the front, and, althouofh Archer 

 urged on Melton to his limit, there was no overtaking the 

 Duke of Westminster's horse, who won easily by two 

 lengths. 



There were fourteen starters for the Royal Hunt Cup, 

 and Mr. W. Gilbert's Despair came in first by half a length. 

 An objection, however, was lodged against the winner on 

 the ground of boring, but it was overruled. The Prince 

 and Princess of Wales were present throughout the meeting, 

 and drove on to the Course in semi-state, the procession 

 being headed by Lord Suffield as Master of the Buckhounds. 



It had always been a matter of considerable difficulty 

 to get from the Grand Stand to the Paddock, the only 

 way being to go across the lawn, along the Course, and 

 into the Paddock by the Course gates. To obviate this 



167 



