The Oatland Stakes at Ascot, 1791

ASCOT HEATH.

Embellished with an exact Representation of the Great OATLAND STAKES, run over there on day the 28th of June, 1791.

THE approaching season induces us to give our readers a description of this RACE, (of which the annexed plate is a striking representation) the greatest race ever decided in this kingdom; and upon the event of which, upwards of one hundred thousand pounds was won and lost. The original subscribers were forty-one, of a hundred guineas each, half forfeit; two declaring forfeit in the July preceding, paid only twenty-five guineas each. NINETEEN started, and twenty paid half forfeit; the exact stakes, therefore, run for in one heat (and that decided in seven minutes and thirty-three seconds) was 2950 guineas, which fortunately fell into the hands of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, with the odds of 20 to 1 against him. Of the nineteen that started, the judge could only place the first four, for not only those, but four or five others, might have been nearly covered with a blanket. They came in as follows:
H. R. H. the P. of Wales's Baronet 1
Mr. Barton's Express 2
Lord Barrymore's Chanticleer 3
H. R. H. the P. of Wales's Escape 4

The betting was 9 to 1 against Chanticleer, 100 to 3 against Express; even betting the field against three, and 20 to 1 against Baronet. The immense concourse of people that attended this race, even from the most remote parts of England, exceeds belief; it was calculated that not less than forty thousand people were present, and apprehensions were entertained for general safety, all kinds of accidents being dreaded by anticipation. Those who had formed expectations of WINNING, were so disappointed, that they attributed their losing to the crowds of people who retarded their horses, and prevented them from getting up abreast when within the lines, and absolutely shut in without a possibility of getting a-head.
These complaints were the cause of removing the OATLANDS to NEWMARKET, where it was run on Wednesday April 11, 1792. Fifty-six subscribers of 100 guineas each, as before ; of these, twenty started, three paid 25 guineas forfeit, and twenty-three paid half forfeit. The stakes, therefore, upon a single heat, were 3725 guineas, and won by Mr. BULLOCK'S Toby, with six to one against him. These horses were also to have been handicapped again, to have run over Ascot in June, but some circumstances transpired in this race so very displeasing to many concerned, that it is most probably the only GREAT RACE of numbers or stakes that will be run for again in many years to come, or so long as the inconveniences attending it can be retained in memory. The fact is, that it is clearly explained in so large a field, and for such stakes, horses of a certain description, with good emissaries to effect the business, may win thousands more by losing than it is possible to do by endeavouring to win. These are the incontrovertible facts that have given the turf at present a very barren and dreary prospect; the poverty of one pigeon; the death of a second; and the compulsive abdication of a third, affords at present, a temporary famine. Horses are daily throwing out of training; JOCKIES are going into mourning; GROOMS are becoming E O merchants, and STRAPPERS are going on the highway.