ON THE RACE COURSE. 213 



to the gentlemen who may be selected from among the 

 nobility and gentry of distinction in the neighboming 

 country where the meetings are held. It sometimes 

 happens, that gentlemen are appointed who are not 

 thoroughly acquainted with all the rules of racing. 

 Now^ for the information of such, and in order that the 

 business of the day may go smoothly on, I will here 

 give as brief and as correct a sketch as I am able, of 

 such rules and orders as they may be required to see 

 carried into effect : but with regard to the arrangement 

 of the duties emanating from the evening assemblies, 

 when the gentlemen have to divide equally their 

 polite attention in matching the young ones to sport 

 the light fantastic toe in the dance, and in placing the 

 aged ones at the card table to a quiet rubber, to play 

 the severities of the game for the odd trick, I must beg 

 to decline interfering. This important part of the 

 stewards' duties I leave to the better taste and judgment 

 of the gentlemen themselves. 



The stewards of racing meetings should give their 

 orders in due time, for the making of such regulations 

 relative to the course, as they may conceive most 

 advantageous. They should fix the hour the horses 

 are to start, and they are accountable that all funds run 

 for in the meeting are paid before the horses start. 

 To the stewards, the gentlemen of the turf, the betters, 

 trainers and jockeys, all look up, to decide correctly on 

 any disputes which may arise. They should therefore 

 be in the stand appropriated for them during the time 

 the horses are running ; and they should here observe 



