MODERN FARRIEK. 247 



policy, in the general interests of the community ; 

 or which are not made upon games, or are likely to 

 disturb the public peace, or to encourage immorality, 

 or probably affect the interests, characters or feelings 

 of others, not parties to the wager, are legal, and 

 may be recovered in a court of justice. 



128. Laws of Racing. 



Horses take their ages from May-day, i. e. a horse 

 foaled any time in the year 1818, will be deemed a 

 year old on the first of May, 1819. 



Four inches are a hand. Fourteen pounds are a 

 stone. 



Catch weights are, each party to appoint any per- 

 son to ride without weighing. 



Give and take plates are, fourteen hands to carry 

 a stated weight, all above or under to carry extra or 

 be allowed the proportion of seven pounds to an 

 inch. 



A whim plate is weight for age and weight for 

 inches. 



A post match is to insert the age of the horses in 

 the articles, and to run any horse of that age with- 

 out declaring what horse, till you come to the post 

 to start. 



A handicap match is. A, B, and C, to put an 

 equal sum each into a hat ; C, who is the handicap- 

 per, makes a match for A and B, who, when they 

 have perused it, put their hands into their pockets, 

 and draw them out closed, then they open them to- 

 gether, and if both have money in their hands, the 

 match is confirmed ; if neither have money, it is no 

 match. In both cases, the handicapper draws all 

 the money out of the hat ; but if one has money in 

 his hand, and the other none, then it is no match, 

 and he that has money in his hand is entitled to the 

 deposit in the hat. 



