DISTANCE
;—a sporting term appertaining solely to the TURF. It is a length of two hundred and forty yards (actual measurement) from the WINNING-POST of every RACE-COURSE in the kingdom; precisely at which spot is fixed a post corresponding with others, but having a gallery annexed capable of holding three or four persons, which is called the DISTANCE-POST. In this gallery, as well as in the gallery of the winning-post, before the horses start each heat, is stationed a person holding a crimson flag; during the time the horses are running, each flag is suspended from the front of the gallery to which it has been appropriated; but immediately upon the first horse passing the holder of the flag in the gallery of the WINNING-POST, he strikes THE FLAG; at the very moment of his doing which, the holder of the flag in the gallery of the distance-post strikes his also, in confirmation that the heat is decided; and such HORSE or HORSES (running for the plate) as may not have passed the DISTANCE-POST before the flag is struck, is then deemed a distanced horse, and disqualified from starting again for the same PLATE or PRIZE. A horse running on the wrong side of a POST, the RIDER not bringing his proper and full weight to scale after the heat, or dismounting without first riding HIS HORSE up to the side of the scale, and weighing, are also deemed distanced horses, and not permitted to start again.