Royal Ascot 



>*- 



James Weatherby, to transfer his practice from Newcastle 

 to Newmarket. There he became Keeper of the Match 

 Book, and Secretary to the Jockey Club. The business 

 of the Club growing in importance, it was decided, about 

 1773, to institute the "Racing Calendar" as its official 

 publication, and Mr. James Weatherby's elder brother John 

 was invited to assume its management. These brothers 

 thus became united in the business, which was subsequently 

 established in the firm's well-known premises in Old 

 Burlington Street. To James Weatherby belongs the 

 merit of the conception, and, in a degree, of the compila- 

 tion of the first "Stud Book"; his contribution being the first 

 volume (which was originally published in 1793) of that 

 valuable work of reference. The direction of the firm has 

 continued in members of the Weatherby family, and the 

 present active head of the business, Mr. Edward Weatherby, 

 is the son of Mr. Charles Weatherby. To the eftbrts of 

 this family we owe the compilation — in earlier days, under 

 circumstances of no little labour and difficulty — of the two 

 most important sources of Turf history, the " Racing 

 Calendar," and the " Stud Book." 



There is to some extent a romantic interest about the 

 office of Royal Huntsman, and the part that the latter has 

 played in the Royal Procession necessitates some notice of 

 the men who, since the days when George I\^ was King, 

 have figured until recent years so prominently in the 

 Ascot race week. 



George Sharpe was born about 1755, at Hillesden, in 

 Buckinghamshire, and was the son of a celebrated hunts- 

 man who had acquired considerable property. His father 

 wished his son to adopt a military career, but the boy's 



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