Imperial Valley press., 1914-06-16
KING AND QUEEN AT
FAMOUS ASCOT RACES
Omitted Press Day service)

AScOC, England, June Ib.-lne ellte
Of British and European Society
focked to the royal heath today for
the opening Of the Ascot race-meeting,
the most fashionable and aristocratic
meeting Of the English turf. season.
King George and Queen Mary, accom-
panied by Princess Mary, drove in
state from Windsor Castle riding in
an open four horse carriage with pos
tilliors and outriders wearing the pic
turesque Ascot liveries.
Prancing on either side of the kings
carriage rode Lieut.. Col. Sir Freder-
ick ponsonby and Major Olive Wig
ram, the royal cquerrics, who were
attired in the orthodox silk hats, morn
ing coats and dark riding breeches
and jack boots, while scarlet clad
grooms escorted & dozen other car
riages bearing members of the royal
family and the principal Court Off
cials and guests from the Castle.
For the mere male, Prince AL
bert or morning coat, with a silk
hat, is absolutely insisted upon for
today and Thursday, the two state
days. The women who thronged the
reserved enclosures sported their new
est and most expensive costumes. For
them racing is of minor Importance
compared with the necessity of out
dressing their rivals and friends. The
royal enclosure contained everybody
who is anybody, when the hosting of
the royal standard indicated that The
king and queen had taken their places,
and gave the signal for the races to
commence. This was Princess Mary's
..rst Ascot.
The utmost precautions had been
taken to prevent the admission of sun
desirables" to the royal enclosure, and
every applicant had to personally sat-
isfy the Lord Chamberlain as to his
or her identity and eligibility. A few
years ago there was a big scandal over
the sale of tickets by impecunious
members of the aristocracy, and sew
eral unauthorized persons had their
tickets confiscated. To prevent a re-
currence of such state of affairs, the
Lord Chamberlain and host of Off
cials patrolled the enclosure and chal-
lenged everybody of whom they had no
personal knowledge. Although there
was little chance of suffragettes gain
ing admission, there were number
OF Scotland Yard men on duty round
the royal box, and on the course the
regular officials were reinforced by
strong bodies of uniformed police and
plain clothes detectives.
The racing is nominally controlled
by the stewards Of the Jockey Club,
but as the heath is royal property,
and most of the prizes are given by
the king, the monarch himself has the
last word in everything. He appoints
his own stewards, handicappers and
judges, and has his own private police
court in which offenders are dealt with
by Sir John Dickinson, chief magis-
trate from Bow Street. Sir John was
on duty for the first time today.
The takings from the stands are
devoted to the upkeep of the course
and the provision of substantial prizes,
but Hing George isn't greedy and lets
the public on the course without
charge. Many important races will
be decided during the four days, the
principal events today being the Gold
Vase, presented by King George, value
$1,000 with $4,000 in specie added, dis
tance 2 miles; the Ascot Stakes, two
mile handicap value $4,000, and the
Coventry Stakes, value $4,000, for clas-
sic two-year-olds, distance 5h fur
longs. Tomorrow the chief event is
the valuable Royal Hunt Cup. On
Thursday the Gold Cup, one of the
most coveted trophies in Europe, is
run. The King has several entries.
and will attend each day.