Royal Ascot 



chimney corner of a little public-house that stood in what 

 is now Portland Place. 



Mr. Hilton was succeeded in 1806 by John Clark, who 

 held the post until 1822, when he resigned in favour of his 

 son, and the office has remained in the family ever since. 

 Mr. Clark was judge at Newmarket and Epsom from 1806 

 to 1822. He discharged similar duties at the Bibury and 

 the Kingscote Clubs, and Stamford Races for many years. 

 He was a well-known and popular inhabitant at Newmarket, 

 as, after his retirement from his official occupation, he was 

 the proprietor of the Greyhound Hotel in that town. 



When John Clark succeeded his father, his connection 

 rapidly increased as his probity of character and the unusual 

 quickness and accuracy of his eye became known ; and in 

 1834 he acted as judge at the following meetings: — New- 

 market, Epsom, Ascot, Good- 

 wood, Lewes, Chelmsford, 

 Bath, Brighton, and occasion- 

 ally Egham and Abingdon. 

 Mr. Clark's decisions, owing 

 to the confidence which his 

 rectitude of character and 

 singular physical qualifications 

 ensured, were invariably re- 

 ceived with a respect which 

 forbade dispute and open dis- 

 satisfaction. 



The duties of the chair at 

 Newmarket descended to his 

 son, John P'rancis Clark, in 

 1853. During Mr. John 



74 



J. F. CLARK 



