232 THE RACING WORLD 



the framer of the weights, as a rule, the credit of 

 having done his level best. Racing men usually 

 are generous and gifted with the virtue of good 

 fellowship, and it is a pleasure to be able to say 

 that after upwards of six years of handicapping you 

 have not made, so far as you know, an enemy, 

 whilst you have quadrupled the number of your 

 friends. 



Time was when there were many complaints by 

 letter to handicappers, but this custom is now 

 strongly forbidden by the Jockey Club, and is 

 well-nigh a thing of the past, though a letter is 

 still in my possession animadverting in strong 

 language on the harsh and uncalled-for manner in 

 which a certain gentleman's horse had been treated. 

 The reply was in a chaffing mood, and suggested 

 that an opportunity should be afforded of seeing 

 the horse run instead of scratching it. The horse 

 came and ran, ridden by an unknown jockey, and 

 unbacked ; most unfortunately for its owner, it 

 took hold of its bit in a manner not intended, ran 

 fairly away with its diminutive steerer, and romped 

 past the post some six or eight lengths ahead of a 

 fairly large field. That horse never won another 

 handicap, nor was any further objection made to 

 whatever impost it was awarded. 



A word as to penalties in races and this article 



