212 SAM DARLING'S REMINISCENCES 



you adopt the scale of weight for age, and try 

 Weight for according to the class of your opposi- 

 age race ^j^j-^^ though the old ones have the best 

 of the scale in the early spring, which I've often 

 proved myself —and Sceptre in the Lincoln Handi- 

 cap is a striking instance of this. The scale under 

 the Grand National Hunt rules also is to the ad- 

 vantage of the old ones in the spring. It is sur- 

 prising how the three and four-year-olds come on 

 from spring to autumn. After all, when one thinks, 

 it is wonderful that horses of that age can race 

 two miles and over under weight from 10 st. to 

 12 St. 7 lb. 



