32 RACING. 



heats; in 1755 one to Burford for five-year-old horses, 9 St., 

 three-mile heats (in 1767 the latter was altered to 10 St., three- 

 mile heats), and in 1763 one to Carlisle for five-year-old horses, 



8 st. 7 Ibs., three-mile heats. 



The first account of the Royal plate at Edinburgh was pub- 

 lished in 1728, when it was run for by six-year-old horses, 12 st, 

 four-mile heats ; but as very few horses of any note ran at Leith, 

 it was not regularly inserted in the Racing Calendars, as were 

 those run for in England. In 1752 it was altered, and ordered 

 to be run for by four-year-olds, 8st. 4 Ibs. ; 5 yrs., 9 st. ; 6 yrs., 



9 st. 10 Ibs., and aged, 10 st. 3 Ibs., four-mile heats, except in 

 the years 1756-57-58 and 60, when His Majesty's plate of 100 

 guineas was divided into two plates, 50 guineas each, and run 

 for as such. 



Reverting to the pages of the 'Sporting Magazine,' 1792, 

 we find it stated that : 



The Scots nation had a breed of horses which they much es- 

 teemed, and which were held in so much repute by other countries, 

 that it became necessary to restrict their exportation. That coun- 

 try now encourages a fleet breed of horses, and the nobility and 

 gentry have many foreign and other stallions of great value in 

 possession, with which they cultivate the breed and very judiciously 

 improve it. Like the English they delight in racing, and have a 

 celebrated course at Leith, which is honoured with a royal plate 

 given by his present Majesty. The nobility and gentry have like- 

 wise erected a riding-house in the city of Edinburgh at their own 

 expense, and a fixed salary upon a person who has the direction of 

 it. Scotland has been famous for breeding a peculiar sort of 

 horses called Galloways. . . . 



Here follows a somewhat apocryphal account of the origin 

 and breeding of the said Galloways ; in these days, however, 

 the name seems only to survive as a vague description of 

 animals of a certain size. If the Scotch as a nation ever 

 'delighted in racing,' they must in a great measure have out- 

 lived their passion, for the prizes at what may be termed purely 

 Scotch meetings are now almost invariably carried off by the 

 very worst drafts from English stables. 



