HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. 17 



two years old are allowed three pounds, and mares and geld- 

 ings three years old and upward are allowed five pounds before 

 the first of September of eac/i year, and three pounds after 

 that date. In a race exclusively for three-year-olds, for in- 

 stance, the weight to be carried is 122 pounds. Now, if a 

 horse was entered that had won two races, he would carry 127 

 pounds; or, in other words, cany a five pound penalty; but if 

 another horse should enter that had not won a race, it would 

 carry 115 pounds only, or receive an allowance of seven pounds. 

 Amble. The j>ace ; said to be the first natural gait of 

 young colts. In amblingv the horse moves two legs on the 

 same side at the same time, and Doth feet strike as one; then 

 the limbs on the other side advance and strike as one, the 

 strokes — one, two — completing the revolution. In England, 

 in the time of Edward II, (1807-1327), horses were taught to 

 amble or pace by the use of trammels made of strong listing, 

 or irons, which ^\ere attached like chains and fetters, to con- 

 trol the gait. 



Some horses are amblers first, and afterwards learn to trot, and travel 

 equally well in both paces; indeed, considering the small propor- 

 tion of horses that fall into this pace, and the record made by them 

 on the turf, it may be thought to 'have no disadvantage over the 

 regular trot. It would seem to give great advantage to a short- 

 bodied horse, as there is no danger ot overreaching. — The Horse in 

 Motion, J. D. B. Stillman. 



American Derby. Names of several events in the 

 United States, which have been maintained with greater or 

 less regularity for the past thirty years. The first Derby ever 

 run in this country was at Patterson, N. J., in 1801. In 1863 

 the Kentucky Derby was established at Lexington, Ky., but it 

 was not run till 1864, the event taking place at Louisville. 

 The following is the list of American Derbys : American, 

 Chicago, 111. ; Arkansas, Little Rock, Ark. ; Brooklyn, Brook- 

 lyn, N. Y. ; Cony Island, Sheepshead Bay, N. Y. ; Kentucky, 

 Louisville, Ky. ; Latimer, Covington, Ky. ; Twin City, St. Paul, 

 Minn. ; Tennessee, Memphis, Tenn. But one American Derby 

 was run in 1893 — that at Washington Park, Chicago, 111. 



American Eclipse. A famous horse in the stud and 

 upon the turf. Bred by Gen. Nathaniel Coles, Dosoris, L. I., 

 N. Y. Foaled May 25, 1811. Chestnut; 15^ hands high, 

 with star in forehead, near hind foot white ; heavy-set, and 

 full of bone and muscle. By Duroc, by imported Diomed; 

 dam. Miller's Damsel, by imported Messenger, by Mambrino, 

 out of an imported mare by Pot-8-os, son of the famous Eng- 

 lish Eclipse. He was trained at three years old. Winner of 

 the great sectional match between the North and South, 

 2 



