278 PRACTICABLE REFORMS. 



rule that disqualifies a horse on the death of the nominator ; 

 and I think a judicious revision of the rule might be made. 

 The purchaser of any horse with his engagements, should, if 

 so notified to Messrs. Weatherby within a given time, be 

 able to have him transferred from the nominator to himself, 

 and should alone be answerable for the horse's stakes and 

 forfeits, and should be looked upon in every respect as the 

 original nominator. Of course if any one, to evade his re- 

 sponsibilities, sold a heavily engaged horse that was good for 

 nothing, and gave as the purchaser a man of straw, or even 

 one not known, or who could not satisfy the Jockey Club of 

 his power to pay the forfeits or stakes as they became due, 

 the horse should then still remain the property of the vendor 

 as far as his stakes and forfeits were concerned, unless the 

 amount were paid into Messrs. Weatherby 's hands to cover 

 them. This would simplify matters and operate justly to all. 



The comfort of all true lovers of the turf, would, I feel sure, 

 be increased, and the condition of those connected with it 

 improved, by restricting racing to a certain number of days 

 in each week. Lgrd George Manners exercised his influence 

 with the Jockey Club beneficially, by restricting all meetings 

 at Newmarket, the Houghton meeting excepted, to five days ; 

 an example that might be worthily followed by the officials 

 elsewhere. But the restriction might be carried further with 

 increased advantage. I would have the racing at all meetings 

 confined to four days in the week; leaving the Monday for the 

 settling at Tattersall's, and the Saturday for yearling sales — 

 for men can only be in one place at a time. 



If it should happen that all the races set down could not 

 be run off within the four days, some of the minor stakes 

 might be amalgamated to reduce the number and increase the 

 individual value of them with advantage ; or should such a 



