The Portland daily press., 1874-07-13
The Ascent Races.

letter under the date of June 10, received
from of the portland party contains
the following entertaining account of 'cup
day. at the Ascot races:
Yesterday being the last important day of
the Ascot race, decided to go down and see it.
So, taxing Mr.. Vickery (the rest not caring to
go,) we took the train at about twelve O clock
and arrived at ha,t-past one, at which time the
first race commenced. The Ascot race is the
grand royal race of England, at which all the
royal family and nobility attend. 1t is the
great national dress occasion of the year and
although not quite as generally attended as the
''De1by," yet at least Que hundred thousand
people were present yesterday, which is. no
small number The races last an entire week,
but yesterday was the principal one, being
what is called Soup Day. grand prize of
the week, gold cup valued at $500. Many of
the celebrated Derby horses were there and
contested for the prize. The winner of the
Derby, "George Frederic" is at home resting,
although he was expected to contest the "St.
James Palace" stakes; SO We were disappoint-
ed in not seeing bim-however, he was but one
of many others which may be equally good.
There were seven or eight races run yesterday,
but the cup race OF course attracted the princi-
pal interest. The favorite was Boiard, betting
being about four to one ON him. The racing
grounds are magnificent As you enter you
at once come into beautiful grounds laid out
in grass plots, and walks filed with ornamental
Flowers of richest hue and leaves of the dark
est green combine to produce picture than
is as charming as you can desire. In this
place, called the "Oasis,' the nobility and
squres from the country around with their
families spread their cloths and enjoy their
lunches, which are gotten up on grand scale.
Such huge baskets filled with all sorts of pro-
visions, hams, fowls, game, beef, lamb, bread
and butter, sandwiches, bottles of ale, stout,
| champagne, &C., &c. When spread on the
10th, how fba trf do
| spreading tree or in the open air, and groups of
| noble looking men ard beautiful women in full
| dress (for tn is the great dress occasion of
| the year, it is a sight that tempts a hungry
man, assure you | never saw dress before-
| such rich combinations of satin and silk and
velve in the varied colors of blue, black, white
| purple and lavender, with some of the lighter
tints and united with such artistic taste as few
| women are capable of, unless having had years
OF experience aud abundant opportunities. to
| say nothing of unlimited means. The PRICE
| of Wales, Duke of Edinburgh, with the Prn-
| cess and Duchess, and large number of the
royal household occupied a stand specially APP
propriated for the royal family. The ladies of
| this party wore very light dresses.
The Grand Stand" is entered from the
COASTS" through doors leading from hall from
which stairways lead up to the top where you
| look over the entire course.
| The track is a green sward and has never
| been broken. There is large space in front of
|
is filled with the betting men, and such per-
| feet lam you never saw or heard, not even
| in the gold room at New York Imagine thou
| sands of people gathered in this enclosure and
| all crying at the top of their voices, 81 to l on
| Boiard'' Il bet against Marie Stuart Field
| against any two etc. ETC., until your ears are
| deaf from the noise. Betting is done on bet
ter basis than with us. A man betting odds
| takes the smallest amount and gives you his
| card with the amount you are entitled to if you
win, and the rules of the course are so strict
| that no man can be allowed to bet and receive
| money unless he is known to be perfectly reli-
| able. One caught in dishonest transaction
| would be warmly dealt with. AT the close of
the race you will see them paying up in Bank OF
| England notes or gold sovereigns. Of course
| the manner of betting is similar to our pool sell
| ling, yet the association controls the matter
more than with us. Almost every one gam
bes, more or less on "Royal Ascot day." The
| favorite "Boiard" won only by very short
| distance. The riders are decked out in differ
| ent colored suits so that you can tell them a
long way off, The excitement grows intense
| as they approach the judges stand, more so
| think, than in our trottng matches; for it is
| soon over and there is no scoring or delay
therefore the entire race lasts bnt few min
| uteS. The entire space inside the track is fill
| ed with people and carriages of the nobility,
| and from the Grand Stand presents mosi
magnificent spectacle of noble looking meI
and women, with the rich array of dresses oil
| all colors. All conditions of English society
| were represented, from the servant to the
Prince, SO that had an opportunity of seeing
more of real England than in any other way
The horses are years old and less and are
| fine specimens of the kind; every muscle shows
| the finest training. l saw only four of the sew
en- races and being tired enough took the
train and came home well satisfied with my
| day at Ascot.