the Countrn.
Ascot Races commenced on Tuesday. The company on the heath
was very numerous and gay ; the weather being tolerably fine, and the turf in good order. The Queen, with the Dutchess of Kent, the Dutchess of Gloucester, the Dukes of Argyll and Grafton, the Mar- quis of Conyngham, Lady Mulgrave, and a splendid suite, attended the races. Her Majesty was received with loud cheers : she was evidently in excellent health and spirits.
The running was not remarkably good. The Oatlands Stakes were won by Lord Exeter's Velure; the Plate by Captain Williamson's Mirvan ; the Gold Vase by Lord Exeter's Mecca ; the Queen's Plate by Sir Gilbert Heathcote's Valentissimo ; and the Sweepstakes by Lord Jersey's Phcenix.
The Queen was not present on Wednesday ; and the sport was flat. The three races were won by Lord Exeter's Mecca, Lord Ches- terfield's Industry, and Bretby ; who beat Veluie, the winner of the previous day, in a canter.
The course was excessively crowded on Thursday. The Queen came with a large party, and was received, as on Tuesday, with accla- mations. The weather was fine till between three and four o'clock, when a steady rain set in, and dispersed the promenaders.
The Windsor Town Plate was won by Mr. Craven's Doncaster; the Sweepstakes by Lord Jersey's Ilderim ; the St. James's Palace Stakes by the Duke of Portland's Bceotian ; the Stand Plate by Lord Exete:'s Mecca ; and the Windsor Forest Stakes by Sir Gilbert Heathcote's Larnaca. But the great race was for the Gold Cup. The horses were Lord George Bentinck's Gray Momus, Mr. Bowes's Epirus, and Lord Suffield's Caravan. Before the start, the betting was 5 to 4 on Gray Momus, 5 to 2 against Caravan, and 7 to 2 against Epirus.
" Gray Momus took the lead at a moderate pace, Epirus lying second, and Caravan third—a position which he kept to the end of the race. There was no change till near the distance, where Epirus went up to him, kept there, and looked amazingly well till V1 Willi fifty yards of home ; when the Gray defeated him by running the longest, and won by a length arid a Lalf cleverly. Caravan was beaten four or five lengths."
William Day, a lad, who rode Gray Momus, was much praised ; he is said to be a worthy scion of his family of joekies.
Yesterday, the weather was wet, the company thin, and the running indifferent. Complaints are made of a " prevailing sickness in the racing-stables."
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