On the State of the Law. 13 



best. It is a racing lottery a vehicle for gambling 

 on an extensive scale, producing the largest field 

 of horses at the smallest expense. 



A great deal of nonsense is periodically published 

 on this subject : a gentleman, who had good horses 

 two years ago, proposed a class legislation limiting 

 the extent of weight to be carried by horses of the 

 same year, which in practice would have made a 

 large acceptance out of the question ; others are 

 horrified at the idea of an old horse winning with 

 a light weight. 



A popular handicap apparently gives every 

 animal an equal chance to win within the limits 

 of 9 st. 7 Ibs. and 5 st. 7 Ibs. ; we know that in the 

 spring a bad three-year-old cannot beat a first-class 

 old horse over a distance of ground within that 

 margin ; that is the owner's look-out. Horses must 

 be weighted according to the handicapper's idea 

 of their merits, without any other regard to their 

 age, than what he considers is commensurate with 

 their staying qualities. There are two parties to 

 the bargain : if the non-contents are in the majo- 

 rity, the handicap is a failure. 



As long as gentlemen of known honour and 

 experience will take upon themselves the un- 

 thankful task of handicapping, racing will flou rish 

 when it gets into venal hands when, after a race, 



