RACING OFFICIALS. 71 



cases being ' hung up,' thereby causing a partial or complete 

 failure of justice. Stewards have power of postponement of a 

 meeting, or of any races from day to day, until the intervention 

 of a Sunday ; this rule is enacted out of deference to our great 

 British arbiter — the Clerk of the Weather. Occasions when 

 races under Jockey Club Rules have to be postponed are, 

 however, exceedingly rare, though in winter postponements 

 are not uncommon under N.H.C. rules. 



The penal jurisdiction of the stewards is limited to the 

 duration of the meeting over which they have control — in other 

 words, they can suspend any person from acting or riding at 

 such meeting, and they can also at their own sweet wull expel 

 anybody from the stands and enclosures, and they can inflict a 

 fine not exceeding 50/., unless they happen to be also Stewards 

 of the Jockey Club, when the fine may amount to 100/. Any 

 further punishment which may be considered necessary must 

 be reported to the Stewards of the Jockey Club, and as this is 

 only done in extreme cases, the recommendation seldom fails 

 to have the desired effect. 



There is yet another responsibility, and that a very serious 

 one, which 7?my devolve on the stewards of any meeting ; for 

 Rule 21 says that 'Every complaint against an official shall be 

 made to the stewards in writing signed by the complainant.' 

 Fortunately, or unfortunately, for the peace of mind of those most 

 nearly concerned, this rule is not often acted upon. For- 

 tunately in the first place for the stewards. Even to racing 

 men thoroughly versed in turf details a constant flow of docu- 

 mentary protest against real or imaginary (chiefly the latter) 

 grievances, would prove such an intolerable nuisance, such 

 a complete hindrance to their own business or pleasure, that, 

 like Mr. Gladstone, they would think twice, nay thrice, before 

 accepting an office so fraught with annoyance; but it has 

 already been mentioned that oft-times at country meetings the 

 stewards appointed at first hand, those whose names appear on 

 the card, are conspicuous by their absence, and deputies have 

 to be sought out who may act tajit Men que 7nal in the place of 



