194 



WEIGHTS AND DISTANCES. 



Indeed, I fearlessly assert that if there is one mistake greater 

 than another, it is the adherence to the present ridiculous 

 system of assigning such low weights to horses of all ages in 

 handicaps. Nothing craves a more speedy remedy, and that 

 remedy, to be effectual, should be the addition, not of a few, 

 but of many pounds. To this I have before cursorily alluded ; 

 but now it will be my endeavour to deal with it fully 

 and fairly. 



It must be apparent to every observer, that if a horse can 

 carry list, and 12 st, and run heats two or three miles; 

 or if he can hunt through a long day, with over 20 st. 

 on his back without hurting himself, of which we have so 

 many instances : it is sheer nonsense to say he is over- 

 burdened with 7 St., and cannot carry it without endanger- 

 ing the safety of his legs over a two-mile course. We are 

 told Mr. Edges of Nottingham, an excellent sportsman, 

 is 19 St., and that he rides nothing but thoroughbred horses 

 and that no one rides harder. Now I daresay some of the 

 animals scarcely look strong enough to carry their master's 

 saddle to the end of a long day ; yet they have not only car- 

 ried it, but 19 st. in addition, and I have never heard that 

 Mr. Edges had an exceptionally large proportion of lame 

 horses in his stud. Mr. T. Assheton Smith, again, used to ride 

 thoroughbreds ; as also did Mr. J. J. Farquharson (better 

 known as the Dorsetshire Squire), and he, like Mr. Smith, 

 could not be called a light man, riding, I should think, 15 st. 

 Yet no one ever went better than these two masters on their 

 thoroughbreds, nor were oftener found with the hounds at 

 the end of a long day. 



A notable example of racehorses carrying heavy weights 

 for a long course was seen in Mr. Osbaldestone's match against 

 time, in 1831, when he undertook to ride 200 miles in ten 



