A CAVALIER'S NOTEBOOK 369 



6. That the horse which shall first end the first course 

 or heat by returning back to the starting-post, and by 

 carrying his rider thither with his full weight, or within a 

 pound thereof, before any horse has come back to the 

 distance-post which stands upon the same ground about 

 twelve score yards from the end, shall win the plate. But 

 if no such thing happen, a second heat to be run at the 

 end of half an hour with horses not distanced. Again, 

 after another half-hour, a third heat if necessary. 



7. In case the plate be not gained in three heats, the 

 horse coming in first in two, and within the distance in the 

 one he loses, shall have the plate. If two different horses 

 win the first and second, the winner of the third shall 

 take it. 



8. Riders not submitting to the rules to be excluded 

 from running. A cloth or flag to be placed at the top of 

 the ending post, which shall fall immediately the first horse 

 comes to the end. 



9. If only one horse comes, he must take the plate after 

 galloping over the course. Riders and horses to be 

 weighed afresh after each heat, and before he enters the 

 scales a flagon of beer to be given to each rider if he 

 requires it." 



The most noteworthy feature of these rules is the immense 

 amount of superiority over all rivals which they exact from 

 the winner. He must come in with a lead of twelvescore 

 yards ; in all cases he must " distance " his nearest opponent 

 to enable him to win the plate. If he could do that, the 

 prize went to him at once. If he failed to distance the 

 second horse, or if he were anything less than 240 yds. in 

 front, there must be another heat run. If the horse won 

 both first and second heats, no matter by what distance, 

 he took the plate ; or if he won the first and third heats, 

 and was outdistanced in the second, he secured the prize. 

 Considering the length of the course, what a terrible 

 bucketing it must have been to any horse to be sent over it 

 three times in the space of an hour and a half with 10 st. 

 on his back ! How those old Turfites would have scorned 

 the notion of winning by a short head ! and how measure- 

 less would have been their contempt for the weedy, spindle- 



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