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.