RULES OF THE COURSE. 525 



The oath required in answer to protest shall be in the following form, to wit : 



I of in the County of 



State of on oath depose and say that I am the 



of the ... called the same entered in a purse for 



horses that have never trotted better than minutes and 



seconds, to be trotted this day on this course, and the same that has been protested, 

 and to which protest this affidavit is in answer, hereby declare and affirm that to the 

 best of my knowledge and belief said before-mentioned horse is eligible to start or 

 compete in the race aforesaid; and that I fully believe all the provisions and condi- 

 tions required in the rules and regulations for the government or trials of speed over 

 this course were fully and honestly complied with in making the entry aforesaid. 



Given under my hand, at this day of 



A. D. 187.. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me, this day of 



A. D. 187.. 



Justice of the Peace. 



[NOTE. In the absence of a Justice of the Peace, if this oath be administered by 

 an officer of the association, or one of the Judges of the race, it will be considered 

 sufficient for the purposes of the National Association.] 



RULE 17. When Horses Shall not be Drawn. No horse shall be drawn except 

 by permission of the Judges of the race, under penalty of being expelled, unless at 

 or before seven o'clock F. M. of fhe day preceding the race (omitting Sunday), the 

 proper party shall have lodged with the President, Secretary, or proprietor of the 

 course, a written notice of his intention not to start, after which notice the horse so 

 drawn shall be ineligible to start in the race. 



Parties having two or more entries in one race shall elect which they will not start, 

 and notify their decision at the same time, in the same manner, and under the same 

 penalty as provided above. 



RULE 18. Power of Postponement. In case of unfavorable weather, or other un- 

 avoidable cause, each association or proprietor shall have power to postpone to the 

 next fair day and good track (omitting Sunday), all purses or sweepstakes, or any race 

 to which they have contributed money, upon giving notice thereof; and they may 

 exercise this power before or after the race has commenced. [See also Rule 19.] 



RULE 19. No Trotting After Dark. No heat shall be trotted when it is so dark 

 that the horses cannot be plainly seen by the Judges from the stand, but all such 

 races shall be continued by the Judges to the next fair day (omitting Sunday), at 

 such hour as they shall designate. 



In all matches and stakes, the above rule shall govern, unless otherwise especially 

 agreed between the parties and the association or proprietors. 



