HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. 175 



assembled, including the king, queen, the Duke of York, the 

 royal attendants and many of the nobility ; and to this disaster 

 historians have attributed the failure of the Rye-house plot, 

 the object of which is said to have been the assassination of the 

 king and his brother on the road from Newmarket to London, 

 if the period of their journey had not been thus anticipated. 

 The races are held on the beautiful heath west of the town, 

 and the course is upward of four miles, being considered the 

 best in England. The training ground, on a slope south of 

 the town, is very fine. Seven race meetings each year are held 

 here, of three days each. They are: 1, the Craven; 2, first 

 spring ; 3, second spring ; 4, July ; 5, first October ; 6, second 

 October; 7, the Houghton. The old course was said to have 

 been kept elastic by the action of earth worms. It was divided 

 into eighteen lengths, each having a different name adapted to 

 the different class of race run on them with regard to weight, 

 age, etc. Among these names were those known as Ditch in; 

 Across the Flat ; Beacon Course, etc. One of its most notice- 

 able features was " the Ditch " — an embankment running from 

 the Cambridge fens to AVood Ditton, which, in old times, all 

 riders were accustomed to salute in passing. See Salute the 

 Ditch. 



Nick. To unite ; the act of coupling. In breeding, said 

 of the crossing of one strain of blood with another, where satis- 

 factory results are reached, '' it nicks or unites well." 



Nicking-. The nicking or docking of the tail, by incis- 

 ions in the lateral and depressor muscles, that the erector mus- 

 cles may keep the tail in a forced position more or less erect 

 according to the whim or fashion. 



Nigh ted Colors. The black outfits or rigs worn by 

 jockeys. 



Nippers. The incisor or front teeth of the horse, twelve 

 in number, six in each jaw, three on each side. Although the 

 incisors are all included in the term " nippers " as generally used, 

 only the middle teeth are properly so called. 



Nobble. [Eng.] To incapacitate a horse from starting 

 in a race, or from winning a race, by previously drugging, 

 laming, or otherwise injuring him, is to " nobble " him. 



No Heat. A heat not awarded. If, in the opinion of 

 the judges, a horse has been helped in coming to the wire by 

 another horse, rider or driver, they have the power to declare 

 the heat to be " no heat," and have the same trotted over again. 



Nominator. The person naming or making entry of a 

 horse in a race. If the nominator is not the owner of the 



