SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



It is a disgrace to a country boasting Turf pre- 

 eminence that the constant cry should concern the 

 dearth of Hght-weights. If an owner's horse is let 

 lightly in he is afraid to bet because he cannot find a 

 boy! Could anything, in the way of putting the 

 tail before the head, be more exquisitely Gilbertian ? 

 Already we have raised the handicap minimum to 

 6 St., and there have been demands for a rise to 

 6 St. 7 lb. I did not always think so, but I am 

 convinced now that a return to even 4 st. 7 lb. would 

 be an immense benefit to the Turf In that case 

 trainers would be compelled to look after and bring 

 out apprentices, and owners, in turn, to allow them 

 to be put up. Suppose we had such weights and 

 such fields as existed for the Chester Cup in the 

 'Fifties, where should we be ? Regard the following 

 examples : 



THE CHESTER CUP OF 1851. 



Mr. Lister's Nancy. 3 yrs., 4 st. 12 lb. 



Mr. Saxon's The Black Doctor. 3 yrs., 5 st. 4 lb. 



Mr. Gratwicke's Hesse Homburg. 3 yrs., b st. 6 lb 



(inc. 10 lb. ex.) 



Mr. Brown's Haricot. 4 jts., 6 st. 12 lb. . 

 Mr. Glen's Damask. 4 yrs., G st. 10 lb. 

 Mr. E. Herbert's Sir Robert. 4 yrs., 6 st. 10 lb 

 Mr. Filling's Lady Eden. 4 yrs., 6 st. 10 lb. 

 Mr. Foster's Mickleton. 4 yrs., 6 st. 10 lb. 

 Mr. Lawson's Cam-ire. 5 yrs., 6 st. G lb. 

 Mr. Carew's Eva. 5 yrs., 6 st. 4 lb. 

 Mr. C. Peck's York You're Wanted. 4 yrs., G st. 4 lb 

 Lord Clifden's Wallflower. 5 jts., 6 st. 



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