The Master of the Buckhounds was an officer in the Master of the Horse's department of the British Royal Household. The holder was also His/Her Majesty's Representative at Ascot. It was a political office, so the holder, who in later years was always a nobleman, changed with every change of government. The office was abolished by the Civil List Act 1901. (A buckhound is smaller than a staghound and used for coursing the smaller breeds of deer, especially fallow deer.)