'And his Royal Highness is also pleased to give another Gold Plate, Value One Hundred Guineas, to be run for the Second Thursday in October next, one Heat, over the Heat's Course at Newmarket, ten Stone, by Horses five years old, whose Age must be certified as aforesaid, and likewise allowed by Gentlemen whose Horses run. This year no Mare will be admitted to run for either of those Plates: Although for the future his Royal Highness designs to give a Plate of the like Value, to be run for at each of the aforesaid Courses by Mares only, of the said Age.' Indeed, in that year of 1705 the royal couple seemed mightily given to racing, for 'the queen has appointed horse races to be at Datchet after her return from Winchester to Windsor.'[378] [Footnote 378: _Luttrell_, Sept. 1, 1705.] Her gold plates, as far as can be made out from newspaper advertisements, were, in 1703, 100_l._, at Stapleton Leys, Yorkshire, September 2; one at Newmarket on April 12, 1705; at Langton Wold, near Malton, Yorkshire, July 24, 1707; in 1709 at Black Hambleton, Yorkshire, July 26; one of 50_l._ at Datchet, August 24; one of 100_l._ at Newmarket, October 6; while the Prince's Cup of 100_l._ for mares four years old was run for on October 8 the same year; in 1711, at Clifton and Rawcliffe Ings; in 1712 at Black Hambleton, on July 26; and at Clifton Ings, on July 28; in 1713 at Hambleton, August 1; Clifton, August 3; and in the same year one was run for at Ascot Heath on August 12--the first mention that I can find of racing there; in 1714, Clifton Ings, on July 28. A few racing mems of this time will illustrate to what an extent this passion for the turf was carried. 1702: 'They write from Newmarket, That the Lord Godolphin's and Mr. Harvy's Horses ran for 3,000_l._ His Lordship won; As also the Earl of Argile, and the Duke of Devonshire's; the latter's Horse won, by which Mr. Pheasant got a considerable sum.' 1703: 'The great horse race at Newmarket, run for 1000 guineas between the lord Treasurer and the Duke of Argyle, was won by the latter.' Perhaps the earliest sporting paper is 'News from _New Market_: or An Account of the Horses Match'd to Run there in _March_, _April_, and _May_ 1704, The Weight, Miles, Wages and Forfeits. Printed for _John Nutt_ near Stationer's Hall. Price 2_d._' 1707: 'Last Monday was a horse race at Newmarket, between the lord Granby's Grantham and Mr. Young's Blundel, for 3000_l._--the latter won.' On April 10, 1708, at Newmarket, the Duke of Bedford's bay horse (9 stone) had a match with Mr. Minchall's bay colt (8-1/2 stone) for 1,000 guineas; but there is no record of which won. These were the highest stakes recorded during the reign: they were generally for 200 or 300 guineas.