HORSE-RACING

—has been a favorite sport with the superior classes for many centuries, but never arrived at any degree of local celebrity till the reign of Charles the Second; who, entering into the spirit of the TURF, and becoming personally present with the full splendor of his court, then laid the foundation of the meetings at Newmarket, which are now become so justly eminent, and where RACING has long since attained the full zenith of perfection. This sport during so many years, had undergone a variety of changes and depressions, according to the temper of the times, the dispositions of the people, and the fluctuation of events; amidst all which, it seems to have been the peculiar province of the great Duke of Cumberland (uncle of his present Majesty) to have become the principal instrument of renovation; having, by incessant exertion, and personal example, raised the spirit of the TURF to a degree of eminence and emulation, the brilliant rays of which will most probably never be totally obscured, till "time itself shall be no more." This, however, was not effected without an immensity of expence, and an incredible succession of LOSSES, to the sharks, Greeks, and black-legs of that time, by whom his Royal Highness was eternally surrounded, and incessantly pillaged; but having, in the greatness of his mind, the military maxim of "persevere and conquer," he was not to be deterred from the object of pursuit, till, having just become possessor of the best STOCK, best BLOOD, and most numerous STUD in the kingdom, beating his opponents "at all points," he suddenly "passed that bourne from whence no traveller returns;" an irreparable loss to the TURF, and universally lamented by the kingdom at large.

This unexpected and severe stroke occasioned a temporary stagnation; and the general gloom, with which all the interested were for some time affected, seemed to threaten a serious suspension, if not a total annihilation; but the STUD being announced for SALE at the GREAT LODGE in Windsor Park, it afforded scope for the most fertile speculations, and those who had lost (by the Duke's death) the most striking and opulent object of their depredations, now found it prudent to form themselves into a family combination and compact, by whose indefatigable industry the sporting part of the public were most shamefully robbed for five-and-twenty years, at all the races of note for fifty miles round London; when finding, in their own phrase, that "the GAME was quite up," their persons were known, and their practices exploded, they disposed of the FAMILY STUD, withdrawing themselves as PRINCIPALS, and acting only as accessories upon private information from the subordinates, upon which the experience of years has proved a handsome subsistence is to be obtained.

These discoveries in almost every direction, roused gentlemen of FORTUNE, HONOR, and INTEGRITY, from the apathy to which they had been inadvertently lulled; and seeing the absolute necessity of a separation from a set of marked unprincipled miscreants, proper means of exclusion were adopted, the RULES of the Jockey Club (which see) were revised and improved; every proper mode being taken to prevent the introduction and election of those, whose characters and property were not known to accord with the principles of the original institution. Here followed another temporary gloom; the deaths of several of the most zealous amateurs and supporters of the turf, in almost immediate succession, caused such a general sterility, that Newmarket was literally in mourning; training-grooms and stable-lads were daily becoming gentlemen at large (or rather wanderers) for want of employment. As casual circumstances frequently effect CONTRASTS, or operate by EXTREMES, so, during the last twelve or fourteen years, RACING has experienced another resurrection; but DEATH, that unrelenting "leveller of all distinctions," has recently deprived us of some of its most experienced devotees, whose STUDS of course are successively coming to the hammer, and indicate at present no certain prospect of increasing popularity. As this subject will be repeatedly treated on, under those heads to which it particularly appertains, it becomes only necessary to introduce the fixed RULES and REGULATIONS, as invariably observed at Newmarket, (which is the standard for the kingdom in general,) by all those who support a character for punctuality and integrity upon the turf.

It is enacted by different Acts of Parliament, That no person whatsoever shall enter, start, or run any HORSE, MARE, or GELDING, for any PLATE, PRIZE, SUM of MONEY, or other thing, unless such horse, mare, or gelding, shall be truly and bona fide the property of, and belonging to, such person so entering, starting, or running the same: nor shall any person enter and start more than one horse, mare, or gelding, for one and the same plate, prize, or sum of money, under the forfeiture of the horse, horses, or value thereof.

Any person that shall enter, start, or run a horse, mare, or gelding, for less value than fifty pounds, forfeits the sum of TWO HUNDRED POUNDS. Every person that shall print, publish, advertise or proclaim any money, or other thing, to be run for, of less value than fifty pounds, forfeits the sum of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS. Every race for any plate, prize, or sum of money, to be begun and ended in one day. Horses may run on Newmarket Heath, in the counties of Cambridge and Suffolk, and Black Hambleton, in the county of York, for less value than fifty pounds, without incurring any penalty.

All and every sum and sums of money paid for entering of any horse, mare, or gelding, to start for any plate, prize, sum of money, or other thing, shall go and be paid to the second best horse, mare, or gelding, which shall start or run for such plate, prize, or sum of money, as aforesaid. Provided, that nothing therein contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to prevent the starting or running any horse, mare, or gelding, for any plate, prize, sum of money, or other thing or things issuing out of, or paid for, by the rents, issues, and profits, of any lands, tenements, or hereditaments; or of or by the interest of any sum or sums of money chargeable with the same, or appropriated to that purpose.

Every horse, mare, or gelding, entered to start or run for any plate, prize, sum of money, or other thing whatsoever, shall pay the sum of two pounds two shillings. And be it further enacted, That the owner of every horse, mare, or gelding, entered to start or run for any plate, prize, sum of money, or other thing, shall, previous to the entering or starting such horse, mare, or gelding, pay the sum of TWO POUNDS TWO SHILLINGS, as the duty for one year, into the hands of the Clerk of the Course, Book-keeper, or other person authorized to make the entry of such horse, mare, or gelding; and if any owner shall, previous to the starting, neglect or refuse to pay the said sum of two pounds two shillings, for such entrance, to the Clerk of the Course, Book-keeper, or other person authorized to make the entry as aforesaid, the owner or owners of every such horse, mare, or gelding, shall forfeit and pay the sum of TWENTY POUNDS.

RULES in RACING.

When HORSES are matched at CATCH WEIGHTS, each party may appoint any person to ride, without weighing either before or after the race.

Give and take Plates are for horses of fourteen hands high, to carry a stated weight, above or below which more or less is to be carried, allowing seven pounds for every inch.

A Whim Plate is weight for age, and weight for inches.

A Post Match is made by inferring the age of the horses in the articles; and the parties possess the privilege of bringing any horse of that age to the post, without making any previous declaration whatever, of name, colour, or qualifications.

A Handicap Match. See Handicap.

Riders must ride their horses (after running) to the SCALES to weigh; and he that dismounts without so doing, or wants weight when weighed, is deemed a distanced horse.

The HORSE, whose HEAD first reaches the ending POST wins the HEAT.

If a RIDER falls from his horse, and the horse is rode in by a person who is sufficient weight, he will take place the same as if it had not happened, provided he goes back to the place where the other fell.

Horse's plates (or shoes) not allowed in the weight.

Horses not entitled to start, without producing a proper certificate of their age, if required, at the time specified in the articles, except where AGED horses are included; and in that case, a junior horse may enter without a certificate, provided he carries the same weight as the aged.

All BETS are for the best of the plate, where nothing is said to the contrary.

For the BEST of the PLATE, where there are three heats run, the horse is deemed SECOND best who wins ONE.

For the BEST of the HEATS, the horse is second that beats the others twice out of three times, though he does not win a heat.

In all BETS, either bettor may demand STAKES to be made; and on refusal, declare the bet void. A confirmed BET cannot be off but by mutual consent.

If one of the PARTIES is absent on the DAY of RUNNING, a public declaration may be made of the BET upon the Course, accompanied with a demand, whether any person present will make STAKES for the absent party, which proportion not being acceded to, the bet may be declared void.

Bets agreed to be paid or received in town, or at any other particular place, cannot be declared off on the Course.

If a MATCH is made for any particular day, in any meeting at Newmarket, and the parties agree to change the day, all bets must STAND; but if run in a different meeting, the bets made before the alteration are void.

The person who lays the ODDS, has a right to chuse his HORSE or the field.

When a person has chosen his horse, the field is what starts against him; but there is no field, if the horse so named has no opponent.

Bets made for POUNDS, are always paid in GUINEAS.

If ODDS are laid, without mentioning the horse before it is over, it must be determined as the bets were at the time of making it.

Bets made in running, are not determined till the PLATE is WON, if that heat is not mentioned at the time of betting.

Where a PLATE is won by two heats, the preference of the horses is determined by the places they are in at the termination of the second heat.

Horses running on the wrong side of a POST, and not turning back to completely recover their ground, are distanced.

Horses drawn between any of the heats, before the plate is WON, are distanced.

Horses are deemed distanced, if their RIDERS cross and jostle, when the ARTICLES do not permit it.

If a horse WINS the first heat, and all others draw, they are not distanced, if he starts no more; but if he starts again by himself, the drawn horses are distanced.

When BETS are made after a heat upon a subsequent event, if the horse so betted upon does not start, the BETS so made are void.

When three horses have EACH won a HEAT, they only must start for a fourth, and the preference between them will be determined by it, there having before been no difference between them.

No horse can be distanced in a fourth heat.

When the words "play or pay" are included in a BET, it is thus decided: the horse which does not appear, and be ready to start, at the time appointed, is the loser; and the other is the WINNER, although he goes over the Course by himself.

In running heats, if it cannot be decided which is first, the heat is then called a DEAD HEAT, and they may all start again; unless it should happen in the last heat, and then it must be between the two horses which, if either had WON, the race would have been decided; but if between two, that by either winning the race would not have been determined, then it is no heat, and the others may all start again.

Bets made upon horses WINNING any number of PLATES within the year, remain in force till the FIRST DAY of May.

Money given to have a bet laid, not returned, if not run.

To propose a BET, and say "done" first to it, the person who replies "done" to it, makes it a confirmed bet.

Matches and BETS are void on the decease of either party before they are determined.

NEWMARKET COURSES

THE
EXACT DISTANCES
OF THE
DIFFERENT COURSES at NEWMARKET
ARE AS FOLLOW.

Miles.Furlongs.Yards.
The Beacon Course is41138
Last three miles of ditto3045
From the Ditch-in2097
The last mile and a distance of B. C.11156
Ancaster Mile1018
Fox's Course1655
From the turn of the lands, in05184
Clermont Course (from the Ditch) to the Duke's Stand15217
Across the Flat1244
Rowley Mile101
Ditch Mile07178
Abingdon Mile07211
Two middle miles of B. C.17125
Two Years Old Course05136
Yearling Course02147
Round Course3693
Duke's Course40184
Bunbury's Mile07208
Dutton's Course300

The New Roundabout Course on the Flat is nearly a mile and three quarters.

The great and leading qualification of a horse bred for the TURF, is the purity of his blood, which can only be insured by the verity of his PEDIGREE, and this, to be authentic, must be signed by the BREEDER, and is in purchase and sale always transferred with the horse. The most distinguishing trait of judgment in racing, is first to ascertain the exact speed of the horse, and then to discover of what precise weight he is master; that he may not be retarded in one, by being overloaded with the other. Attentive experience with the PROFESSORS and AMATEURS for a series of years, has long since fully demonstrated, upon practical proof, (for the trials have been repeatedly made even to the key of the stable-door,) that the celerity is, in certain degrees, to be increased or impeded by the weight the horse has to carry. It will, therefore, be readily conceived, if two horses are tolerably equal in speed, strength, blood, and bone, as well as of the same year, the horse which carries the least weight by only three pounds, must, in the course of FOUR MILES, display the advantage he has over his antagonist; particularly as the longer the race, the more will the horse be affected by the weight he carries; and those who are the best and most experienced judges, hesitate not to affirm, that the addition of seven pounds weight carried by one, where both are thought of equal speed, will, if the ground is run honestly over, make the difference of a DISTANCE (two hundred and forty yards) in the four miles only.

The racing weights most in use for half a century past, have been according to age and qualifications, from about seven stone seven, to nine stone twelve, or ten stone; except in matches with two years old, and yearlings at light or feather weights, and the King's hundreds, for which (till some trifling alterations lately adopted) they carried at six years old TWELVE STONE. There are, however, some NEW CLUBS, lately instituted by NOBLEMEN and GENTLEMEN of the first distinction, who hold their meetings at Bibury and Kingscote, in Gloucestershire, where the weights are advanced beyond former example to twelve or thirteen stone, upon a well-founded principle of exciting emulation in BREEDERS to pay some attention to BONE as well as to BLOOD; a most judicious and salutary improvement, considering the infinity of weeds that are annually drafted and destined to the hammer of a repository, as objects of neither value, utility, or attraction.

CERTIFICATE of AGE.

Raby Castle, March 1, 1803.

I hereby certify that my Bay Colt, Hap Hazard, got by Sir Peter Teazle, Dam by Eclipse, was bred by me, and that he was no more than Four Years old last Grass.

D——

ARTICLE of a MATCH.

October 12, 1798.

Sir H. T. Vane's B. Horse Hambletonian, got by King Fergus, Dam by Highflyer, now Six Years, carrying 8st. 3lb. is matched against Mr. Cookson's B. Horse Diamond, by Highflyer, (out of the Dam of Sparkler,) now Five Years old, carrying 8st. over the Beacon Course at Newmarket, on Monday in the next Craven Meeting, for 3000 Guineas, Half forfeit; with a Power reserved to alter the Day and Hour, or either, by consent.

H. T. V.
J. C.

This match was run on Monday, March 25, 1799, and won by Hambletonian, (five to four in his favour at starting.)—See Diamond or Hambletonian.

PRODUCE MATCH

FOR SPRING MEETING, 1803.

The Produce of Sir T. Gascoigne's Golden Locks, covered by King Fergus, against the Produce of Mr. Fox's Dam of Calomel, covered by Beningbrough, for 200 Guineas each, Half forfeit. Colts to carry 8st. Fillies 7st. 11lb. Last Mile and a Half. No Produce no Forfeit.

Produce Matches, and Produce Sweepstakes, are generally made and entered into during the time such Mares are in Foal.

A POST PRODUCE MATCH

OF 200 GUINEAS EACH.

Colts to carry 8st. 7lb. Fillies 8st. 4lb.

covered by
Mr. Clifton's Expectation⎫
Mr. Clifton's Eustatia⎬Abba Thulle.
Mr. Clifton's Sister to Gabriel⎭
Mr. Dawson's Sincerity⎫
Mr. Dawson's Highflyer Mare,⎪
out of Sincerity⎬Coriander.
Mr. Dawson's Blind Highflyer⎪
Mare⎭

Each to bring the Produce of one to run over Knavesmire when Four Years old.

ARTICLE for a SWEEPSTAKES.

Oxford, ——

We whose Names are hereunto subscribed, do agree to run for a Sweepstakes of 50 Guineas each, over Port Meadow, on the last Day of Oxford Races next ensuing; the Horses to carry the Gold Cup Weights, viz. Four Years old, 7st. 7lb. Five Years old, 8st. 7lb. Six Years old, 9st. and aged, 9st. 4lb. one Four Mile Heat. The Winner of the Gold Cup to carry 7lb. extra. The Subscribers to name their Horses to the Clerk of the Course on or before the first Day of March next; and the Subscription to close on that Day. The Stakes to be paid into the Hands of the Clerk of the Course before starting, or the Subscription to be doubled. Five Subscribers, or no Race.

HUNTERS SWEEPSTAKES.

Rochester, ——

A Sweepstakes of 10 Guineas each, for Hunters (carrying 12st. one Four Mile Heat, to be rode by Gentlemen) that have never started for Plate, Match, or Sweepstakes, and to be bona fide the Property of Subscribers, and which have been regularly hunted the preceding Season as Hunters, and not merely to have obtained the Name; and that, have never had a Sweat with an Intention to run before the first of May next ensuing. Certificates of their having hunted regularly to be produced (if required) from the Owner or Owners of the Hounds with which they have hunted; and to be named to the Clerk of the Course on or before the first of April next; and the Stakes to be deposited at the same Time, or the Horse not permitted to start.—Six Subscribers, or no Race.

See Jockey Club, King's Plate, Training, and Turf.