4 8 



GEORGE II. (1727-1760). 



An important step was taken in regard 

 to the Turf by George II. in 1740; some 

 of its provisions will be found in Ponies Past 

 and Present (pp. 8 and 9), but it contained 

 other clauses of a far-reaching character. 

 This law (13 Geo. II., c. 19) provided that 

 every horse entered for a race must be 

 bond fide the property of the person entering 

 it, and that one person might enter only 

 one horse for a race on pain of forfeiture. 

 The weights to be carried were prescribed: 

 A 5 -year-old was to carry 10 stone. 

 A 6-year-old ,, ,, 1 1 stone. 

 A 7 -year-old ,, ,, 12 stone. 

 Any horse carrying less was to be forfeited 

 and his owner fined ^200. Every race 

 was to be finished on the day it began, 

 that is to say, all heats were to be run off 

 in one day. The Act went even further. 

 It declared that matches might be run for 

 a stake of under ^50, only at Newmarket 

 and Black Hambleton in Yorkshire, under 

 a penalty of ^200 for disobedience. Prizes 

 elsewhere were to be of an intrinsic value 

 of at least ^50, and entrance money was 

 . to go to the second horse. 



So drastic a measure as this could not 



