370 A MIRROR OF THE TURF. 



executive, is despotic ; it makes laws and alters 

 them at discretion ; the plain truth is, it seems to 

 be perpetually engaged in the patching of the 

 *' Rules of Racing," which have been the growth of 

 the last seventy or eighty years, and which, instead 

 of being occasionally patched, ought to be revised 

 from beginning to end — or, perhaps, if they were 

 "entirely reconstructed" it would be better. In 

 all probability the original framework has been 

 so patched as to be past recognition. Any person 

 who takes the trouble to look over the " Rules of 

 Racing," which are to be found in " Ruff" or any 

 of the other guides to the turf, will at once see 

 that many of them might be with advantage 

 altogether excised. The terrible penalties against 

 horse - watching, especially in regard to trials, 

 might at once be removed from the statutes ; as 

 they stand they only provoke laughter ; in fact 

 they are altogether obsolete, and seem to us 

 moderns " full of sound and fury." 



The following sentences comprise the rules of 

 racing, so far as they relate to "corrupt practices," 

 among which will be found what is said in regard 

 to the watching of trials: *'(i.) If any person 

 corruptly give or offer any money, share in a bet, 

 or other benefit to any person having official 

 duties in relation to a race or to any jockey ; or 

 (ii.) If any person having official duties in relation 

 to a race, or any jockey, corruptly accept or offer 

 to accept money, share in a bet, or other benefit ; 

 or (iii.) Wilfully enter or cause to be entered or to 

 start for any race a horse which he knows to be 

 disqualified ; or (iv.) If any person be detected 

 watching a trial, or proved to the satisfaction of 

 the stewards of the Jockey Club to have employed 



