40 Horse Racing. 



handicaps subsequent to the publication of the 

 weights. This decision was erroneous, and sanc- 

 tioned neither by law or custom. -Fortunately 

 this exemption has never since been claimed ; it 

 ought not to be allowed, unless the articles specifies 

 that private handicap sweepstakes have an immu- 

 nity. It is easy to draw up the articles with this 

 explanation, " Winners of handicaps with public 

 money added, to carry extra." 



There is a general antagonism between the 

 patrons and employers of the touters and the 

 owners of horses, who may wish to back them 

 when they think they have a chance to win. In 

 the event of a hopeful trial, the tactics of the 

 watchers are so well established that their inform- 

 ation always reaches head-quarters sooner than 

 the report from the stable ; and before the owner 

 has made a bet, the cream of the market has been 

 swept off, nothing is left but the skim-milk, or the 

 painful operation of scratching him for his engage- 

 ment, and incurring the vituperations of the in- 

 itiated in the garb of injured innocence who claim the 

 horse as their private property, on the strength of 

 having backed him, owing to information from 

 their touts, or from some paid traitor in the 

 stable. 



Why do you allow that man to ride on New- 



