Royal Ascot <^ 



dimensions, with two extra entrances from the lawn and 

 race course, has tended considerably to give more facilities 

 to those interested in the Ring, while on the lawn the 

 comfort of spectators has been increased by the prohibition 

 of betting. The formation of a subway, in 1899, under 

 the hiofh road from the p^rounds of Ascot Heath House 

 to a point near the Royal Stand, has added to the 

 convenience of visitors to the Royal Enclosure, and 

 the construction of a new dining-hall by the side of the 

 old one, to minimise the difficulty of providing for so 

 large a concourse of people in the short luncheon interval 

 are but a few of the improvements effected for the comfort 

 of the ever-increasing multitude who attend the races. 



When viewed trom the course there was always, from 

 an artistic point of view, a stunted look about the buildings 

 bordering the Heath, the great length of the stands having 

 no elevation to break the uniformity. It was therefore a 

 very great improvement when, in 1896, the new tower to 

 the Grand Stand was completed, greatly enhancing the 

 appearance of the buildings and affording a distinct land- 

 mark that can be seen for miles round. The tower is 

 square, and is 45 ft. above the top of the Stand. It 

 consists of two parts — -the lower, which is protected by 

 an open stone balustrade, 24 ft. square ; the upper, which 

 forms the clock tower, 16 ft. square, and surmounted by 

 a large weather vane. On the four sides are large open- 

 face dials, and a peal of bells chiming the quarters, tells 

 the time of day to the whole neighbourhood. 



Since the triumph of Boiard, seven years previous, 

 there had not been so much excellence displayed as in 

 the race for the Cup in 1896, when Omnium II., Victor 



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