Jvoyal Ascot 



WM. iii;ni<v iiiiiiiui;i) 



that strict obedience shall be 

 l^iven to his (orders, and con- 

 siderable firmness and ofeneral- 

 ship are required to make 

 jockeys have confidence and 

 respect for the starter. 



At Ascot, in the first 

 hundred years of its existence, 

 the horses were started by 

 the Royal I luntsman, and this 

 was continued up to 1846 by 

 Charles Davis, who, from being 

 whipper-in to his father (who 

 hunted the Kinc^'s Harriers), 

 becanu: in time the most popu- 

 lar huntsman of thc' century, 

 b'roin 1 S46 to 1850, William IIhuuird acted as starter, 

 and was followcxl by his eldest son, William Henry, who 

 was born January 15th, 1826. Owinc^ to his father being 

 uaable, through failing health, to fulfil his duties as Starter 

 and Clerk of the Course; at Ascot in 1851, he took his 

 place and gave; entire satisfiction to the Stewards. On 

 his father's death in 1851 he succeeded to the office of 

 starter, holding it until 1 86u, his death occurring on April 

 22nd, 1863. 



T. McGi'.oRfji:, who had for two y(;ars acted as Deputy, 

 was apjjoiiued Starter to the jockey Club in i860, and for a 

 period of over twenty years his was a lamiliar lace to racing 

 men at the principal meetings. lie was in every way an 

 ideal starter, antl performed his duties in such a way, that he 

 gained the confidence and esteem of all with whom he came 



280 



