2i6 STAG-HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS 



advantage, in view of the fact that the rich stakes at Ascot 

 attract large fields of horses. 



' It is, however, obvious that, if this new course is carried 

 out, the turn from the present Old Mile course on to the 

 new course would be an impossible one, and would require 

 to be altered as shown by the line marked B on the plan. 



' The effect of this alteration would be to shorten the 

 course run over in certain races ' by about fourteen yards, 

 but this will be easily rectified by throwing back the starting 

 posts that distance.' 



Upon the whole the plan found favour, but it w^as of a 

 philosophic, not a practical kind. The stewards of the Jockey 

 Club took up a safe position. ' You offer us, at least so 

 you tell us, a course where everybody will be able to see 

 instead of a course where hardly anybody sees. That will 

 be charming. Pray do so, and we shall all be happy and 

 grateful ; but it is for you to act in the matter. It is not our 

 business, and we do not propose to make it our business.' 



Then, as always happens when all changes from the 

 known to the unknown are concerned, the quieta non movere 

 instinct in human nature came to the alert. It was further 

 pointed out, and with some force, by my predecessor in 

 office, that even at Newmarket, in the very heart of the racing 

 world, fifty per cent, of the people, including most of the 

 finest judges, will not trouble themselves to leave the July 

 stand and go down to the first winning post to see a race, and 

 H.R.H. Prince Christian, a true lover and judge of racing, 

 objected that any plan by which the horses would be seen 

 coming all the way would rob him and other racing idealists 

 of that precious psychological moment when the first cap 

 comes into sight out of the dip of the straight mile. 



' Gold Vase ; Ascot Stakes ; Visitors' Plate ; Coronation Stakes ; Ascot 

 Derby ; 3Gth Ascot Biennial Stakes ; Gold Cup ; St. James's Palace Stakes ; 

 31st New Biennial Stakes ; Ascot High Weight Plate ; Hardwicke Stakes. 



