198 WEIGHTS AND DISTANCES. 



By this table, taken promiscuously from the Newmarket 

 Houghton Meetings, it will be seen that the welter-weight 

 handicaps are liked and patronised, and are still increasing 

 in popularity. For in 1873 the average number of runners of 

 all ages (fractions not included) eight in the welter-weight 

 against nine in the light-weight handicaps, similar in value 

 and distance. And though in 1877 the latter were still one in 

 advance of the heavy weights, last year (1878) ^ we find the 

 runners in the welter races have surpassed those in the light- 

 weight handicaps by two ; numerically standing at ten and 

 eight respectively. 



To this table I have added the handicaps for two-year-olds 

 run at the same place and meetings, to show that owners 

 do not object to run their horses even at that age with between 

 9 and 10 St. on them ; for we see the top and bottom 

 weight of one of these, set at Qst. 2 lbs. and 8 st. 6 lbs. Out 

 of the twelve races the top weight carried 8 st. 11 lbs., or 

 above it, no less than ten times ; whilst in the other two 

 the weights were 8 st. 2 lbs. and 8 st. 6 lbs., respectively. The 

 lowest weight among these 180 horses running in eight races 

 out of the twelve was 6 st. 7 lbs ; whilst, in the others, only 

 one went below 6 St., carrying 5 st. 12 lbs. Can any races be 

 so popular as these ? for we see the twelve stakes bringing 

 180 horses to the post, averaging fifteen runners for each 

 race. Truly what can this be called but the heavy-weight 

 system } and not, be it remembered, for three-year-olds and 

 upwards, but for two-year-olds. It is also remarkable that 

 not one of the above twelve races was won by a lighter 

 weight than 7 st. ; although forty horses that ran carried 

 less. But this is a result attributable, to my mind, as might 

 be inferred from what I have previously said on the 



^ Tliis was written in 1879. 



