,—the name of a horse bred by the late Colonel O'Kelly; he was foaled in 1775; was got by Eclipse, dam (Tuting's Polly) by Black and all Black, grand-dam by Tartar, great grand-dam by Old Starling. He was of great celebrity, and continued for many years a stallion of the first eminence. He was the sire of a great number of good racers, amongst which were those celebrated runners Hambletonian, Overton, Beningbrough, Sir Solomon, Warter, Johnny (Durand's,) Garswood, &c. &c.
KING'S HOUNDS
.—His Majesty's STAG HOUNDS pass under this denomination, as a part of the royal establishment continued in every successive reign without variation. The kennel in which they are kept is situate near the RACE COURSE upon Ascot Heath; at the distance of two short miles from which is Swinley Lodge, the official residence of the Master of the Stag Hounds, an appointment seldom conferred but upon one of the peerage, and is considered an office of honor, with a salary of 2000l. per annum. The presence of the Master of the Stag Hounds in the field is not a matter of necessity, but choice, except when his Majesty hunts, and then his personal attendance is indispensible; his badge of office is a pair of gold dog couples, which hang suspended from a belt on his left side. The HUNTSMAN has a handsome residence at the kennel, with a salary of 125l. a year; to whom there are six assistants, (called YEOMEN PRICKERS,) each having a salary of 104l. with the royal livery richly ornamented, and an annual supply of saddles, bridles, horse-cloths, and the necessary stable appendages; but they find their own horses.
The hunting season commences on Holyrood-Day, the 25th of September, and continues every Tuesday and Saturday till the first week in May; with the exception of Christmas and Easter weeks, when they hunt three times in each. Holyrood-Day, and Easter-Monday, are the two grand days of the year for company, when the field is exceedingly numerous. His Majesty has also a PACK of HARRIERS, which are kept at the Little Park Lodge near Windsor, and with these he hunts constantly in Windsor Great Park, and the surrounding neighbourhood; they are, however, a private concern of his Majesty's, and not included in the regular Crown establishment.
KING'S PLATE
.—Those called King's Plates, are a free gift from his Majesty of 100 guineas each; and it is believed were originally granted as a means of exciting such a degree of emulation, as would probably tend to national advantage, by improving the breed of horses in general; as well as to afford an annual pecuniary advantage (by an additional influx of company) to such CITIES and TOWNS as enjoy the royal favour. Newmarket, as the superior spot of sporting celebrity, is particularly honoured, having two in the first Spring, and one in the first October meetings. King's Plates are also given at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Guildford, Winchester, Ipswich, Burford, Chelmsford, Nottingham, Lewes, Edinburgh, York, Canterbury, Warwick, Lichfield, Richmond, (Yorkshire,) Lincoln, Salisbury, Ayr, Carlisle, and Ascot Heath; the whole of which, except the last, are run for by horses or mares of different ages, carrying such weights as shall be appointed by the Master of the Horse, or whoever he may delegate for that purpose.
The King's Plate of 100 guineas, given at Ascot, and always run for on the first day, (invariably Whit-Tuesday fortnight,) is only for horses which have regularly hunted with his Majesty's STAG HOUNDS the preceding season, and must have been well up with the hounds, at their running up to, taking, or killing, TEN DEER, as an indispensible qualification, without having which they cannot be permitted to start. At the conclusion of the chase, when the deer is secured, those who intend to qualify for the plate apply to the HUNTSMAN, and a ticket is delivered to the rider, bearing the arms of the Master of the Stag Hounds, and the seal of the royal hunt; when which ten tickets are obtained, the horse has secured his qualification, may then be withdrawn from the field, and is not obliged to appear again till the DAY of ENTRANCE at Sunning-Hill Wells, where and when the tickets must be produced, in confirmation of his being duly qualified to START. For the accommodation of the sporting world at large, horses of all ages are permitted to run, carrying the following weights; four years old, 11st. 2lb. five years old, 11st. 9lb. six years old, 11st. 12lb. and aged, 12st. Mares allowed 4lb. The best of three four-mile heats.
The following Rules are, by his Majesty's command, to be strictly observed by the OWNERS and RIDERS of all such HORSES, MARES, or GELDINGS, as shall run for his Majesty's Plates at Newmarket.
King's Plate Articles.
Every person that putteth in a horse, mare, or gelding, for the said plate, is to shew such horse, mare, or gelding, with the marks, name, and name of the OWNER, to be entered at the King's stables in Newmarket the day before they run, and shall then produce a certificate under the hand of the breeder, specifying his exact age the grass before.