CHAPTER XXIIL 



ON PLATING RACE-HORSES. 



Race-horses should always be plated before they 

 are brought to post, where it can be done with safety. 

 All men conversant with the turf are fully aware of the 

 very great importance of weight. They consider, and 

 very justly too, that every ounce is of consequence, 

 when horses are supposed to be equally matched, and 

 more particularly when they have to come long lengths. 



I shall make but few observations on the plating of 

 such horses as are standing at home stables, as they 

 are principally young ones, particularly at Newmarket, 

 being mostly yearlings and two-year-olds. I have 

 never known the former travel, at least when in train- 

 ing, and the latter but in few instances. If, when 

 trained, they are found to be good ones, they are gener- 

 ally entered for stakes with horses of their own year, 

 and run the usual lengths. It is pretty much the same 

 with the three and four-year-olds as with the younger 

 ones ; for if those horses are in any repute, they are 



