414 ENGLISH RULES OF RACING. 



Oath weights are, each to appoint a party to ride without weighing. 

 Feather weight signifies the same. Give and take plates are weights 

 for inches ; fourteen hands to carry a stated weight, all above to 

 carry extra, or be allowed the proportion of 7 Ibs. to an inch. A Whim 

 Plate is a weight for age and a weight for inches. A Past Match is 

 to insert the ages of the horses in the articles, and to run any horse 

 of that age, without declaring till you come to the post to start. 

 Hand Cap weights are weights according to the supposed abilities 

 of the horses. Plates or shoes are not allowed in the weight. 



The horse that has his head at the ending post first, wins the heat 

 Riders must ride their horses back to the winning post to weigh ; and 

 he that dismounts before, or wants weight, is distanced. If a rider 

 fall from his horse, and the horse be ridden in by a person of suffi- 

 cient weight, he shall take place the same as if it had not happened, 

 provided he goes back to the place where the rider fell. 



Horses not entitled to start without producing a proper certifi- 

 cate of their age, if required ; except where aged horses are included, 

 in which case a junior horse may start without a certificate, provi- 

 ded he carry the same weight as an aged horse. 



For the best of the plate, when there are three heats run, the 

 horse is second who wins one. For the best of the heats, the horse 

 is second that beats the other twice out of three times, though he 

 doth not win the heat. When a plate is won at two heats, the pre- 

 ference of the horses is determined by the places they hold in the 

 second heat. When three horses have each won a heat, they only 

 must start for a fourth, and their places/ must be determined by it, 

 though before no difference between them. No distance in a fourth 

 heat. In running heats, if it cannot be decided which is first, the 

 heat goes for nothing, and they may all start again, except it be be- 

 tween two horses that had each won a heat. Horses drawn before 

 the plate is won are distanced. 



A bet after the heat is over, if the horse betted on does not start 

 again, is no bet. A confirmed bet cannot be off, without mutual 

 consent. Either party may demand stakes to be made, and on re- 

 fusal may declare the bet void. If a party be absent on the day of 

 running, a public declaration of the bet may be made on the course, 

 and a demand whether any person will make stakes for the absent 

 party ; and if no person consent to do so, the bet may be declared 

 void. Bets agreed to be settled in town, or any particular place, 

 cannot be declared off on the course. 



The person who bets the odds, 'has a right to choose the horse of 

 the field. When he has chosen the horse, the field is what starts 

 against him ; but there is no field unless one starts with him. If 

 odds are net without mentioning the horse before the race is over, 

 it must be determined as the odds were at the time of making it. 

 Bets made between particular horses are void if neither of them be 

 the winner, unless specified to the -contrary. 



At New Market, if a bet be made for any particular day in any 

 meeting, and the parties afterwards change the day, all bets must 

 stand ; but if altered to another meeting, bets made before the altera- 

 tion are void. Bets determined, though the horse does not start 



