The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-11 00:00:00

ASCOT HEATH RACES.

This truly regal meeting commenced yesterday with a pro-
gramme that has never been approached, and, thanks to the
unceasing and well directed exertions of the Master of the
Buck Hounds, promises to be sustained with unabated attrac-
tion to its close. The Welcome Stakes, decided yesterday, and
the Visitor's Plate, for which a brilliant field will start on
Thursday, are no contemptible additions to a list that, even
without them, would have afforded a greater number and ve-
rity of valuable stakes than have ever been competed for in
this quarter. The grand feature of the week, however,
will be " the Emperor's cup," the first of a series of
magnificent prizes presented by the " Emperor of all
the Russias," in commemoration of his visit to this country in
1844, for the encouragement of a sport, of which, as tending to
promote and improve the breed of race-horses, his Majesty is
known to be an ardent admirer. It was the express desire of
the Emperor that his gift should be for the " best horse," i.e.
that the conditions should be weight for age, and free from
the allowances and penalties that have converted most of the
principal races into handicaps, for which, in order to give
moderate and bad animals a chance, it is necessary to impose
such enormous weights on horses of repute as to
prevent their running with any reasonable prospect
of success. In fact, the Queen's Plates, the Ascot,
Doncaster, and two or three other cups, are
now the only prizes of any value left open for good horses to
=tend for. His Majesty's wish was complied with strictly;
the weights of the old Ascot Cup were adopted, and " The
Emperor's Cup" will in future assume the character of a
champion trophy for the best horse of the year. It is credit-
able to the supporters of the turf that the nominations for it
comprised nearly all the crack horses of the day ; and equally
so to the Stewards that the subject selected for the prize was
so peculiarly appropriate. Its execution is a splendid instance
of the perfection to which the art of modelling has attained in
this country.
Our commendations must not be restricted to the sport.
Various alterations have been suggested by the Earl of Rosslyn
since the last races, and effectually carried out by Mr. Hib-
bard. Not the least noticeable is the inclosure of a large space
in front of the Royal and Weighing Stands, for the purpose of
saddling, &c. ; it is objected to by the trainers, and with some
reason, as not being sufficiently extensive, but to counterba-
lance this defect, it prevents the annoyance that her Msjesty
has hitherto suffered, from the constant assemblage of a noisy
mob immediately under the window of the Royal Stand, and,
besides, enables the company to enjoy the promenade on the
course for at least ten minutes longer than under the old ar-
rangement. Several minor alterations have been completed,
all tending to increase the accommodation of those having
business to transact. The " fitting up" of the course is pretty
much as of eld, with this difference, that nothing in the shape
of a gaming booth was visible; divers attempts were made by
some of the " small fry" to carry on the war in the outskirts of
the course, but in almost every instance were frustrated by
the police, who were not less successful in their endeavours to
relieve the company from those pests of the race-course, the
list-sellers.
Under such favourable circumstances, and with the most
delightful weather imaginable, did the meeting commence, and
it is our gratifying duty to add, that, malgre the rumours to
the contrary, it was graced by the presence of the Queen and
her illustrious guests.
The Trial Stakes, invariably the introducing race here and
elsewhere, was timed for half-past one ; shortly before this, the
royal carriages, seven in number, appeared on she new mile,
and proceeded at a slow trot, to the royal stand, headed as
usual by the Master of the Buck-hounds, the Royal Hunts-
man, and several outriders, Lord George Lennox and Colonel
Grey attending on horseback.
It is almost superfluous to add that her Majesty's reception
was enthusiastic in the extreme. A waving of hats ani hand-
kerchiefs from every stand and carriage on the ground unequi-
vocally testified the loyalty and attachment of those who were
fortunate enough to have the participation of their Sovereign
in the enjoyment of a diversion that, with all its abuses—and
they are manifold—still retains its position as the first
of our national sports. Not to dwell needlessly on this part
of our subject, we may briefly add that the royal
party, having throughout manifested a lively interest
in racing, took their departure immediately after the '2OO
soy. Stakes. Her Majesty has graciously signified an in-
tention to repeat her visit on Thursday, and will, we under-
stand, be accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Nemours,
and a brilliant Court. Although not of her Majesty's party we
should state that his rtoyal Highness Prince George of Cam-
bridge and Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar honoured the races
with their presence.
The company present, irrespective of royalty, was numerous,
embracing an array of high and fashionable names of which no
oiher meeting can boast. We make a brief selection:—
Duke of Rutland, Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, Marquis of
Exeter, Marquis of Normanby, Lord and Lady Chesterfield,
Lord and Lady Wilton, Lord and Lady Albemarle, Lord and
Lady Newport, Lord Southampton, Lord Maidstone, Lord
W. Poulett, Lord Leveson, Lord Villiers, Lord A. Lennox,
Lord H. Lennox, Lord Lonsdale, Lord G. Bentinck, Lord
, A. Fitzclarence, Lord Verulam, Lord Stradbroke, Lord
Glamis, Lord Durcannon, Lord Suffield, Lord Ipswich, Lord
Somerton, Lord S. Osborne, Count Bathyany, Sirs W. Mr,
Wynn, J. Hawley; W. Codrington, S. Spry, W. M. Stanley,
General Wemyss, Colonel Peel, Colonel Bouverie, Hon. E. M.
Mostyn, Hon. Col. Anson, Hon. Cecil Forester, Hon. H.
Forester, Hon. Captain Rous, Hon. Frederick Villiers, Hon.
Captain Spencer, Hon. F. Villiers, Hon. J. Macdonald,
Messrs. Newton, J. Mills, Shelley, Ponsonby, Pettat, Batson,
Copeland, Greville, P. Williams, S. Stanley, J. Stanley, &c.
The grand stand was as usual the general rendezvous for the
aristocracy, as well as for the betting fraternity ; the latter class,
though quite as numerous as ever, was less vociferous, nor did
it strike us that the absence of noise was compensated by any