194 WEIGHTS AND DISTANCES. ' 
Indeed, I fearlessly assert that if there is one mistake greater 
than another, it is the adherence to the present ridiculous 
system of assigning such low weights to horses of all ages in 
handicaps. Nothing craves a more speedy remedy, and that 
remedy, to be effectual, should be the addition, not of a few, 
but of many pounds. To this I have before cursorily alluded ; 
but now it will be my endeavour to deal with it fully 
and fairly. 
It must be apparent to every observer, that if a horse can. 
carry I1st. and 12st, and run heats two or three miles; 
or if he can hunt through a long day, with over 2ost. 
on his back without hurting himself, of which we have so 
many instances: it is sheer nonsense to say he is over- 
burdened with 7 st., and cannot carry it without endanger- 
ing the safety of his legs over a two-mile course. We are 
told Mr. Edges of Nottingham, an excellent sportsman, 
is 19st. and that he rides nothing but thoroughbred horses 
and that no one rides harder. Now I daresay some of the 
animals scarcely look strong enough to carry their master’s 
saddle to the end of a long day; yet they have not only car- 
ried it, but 19st. in addition, and I have never heard that 
Mr. Edges had an exceptionally large proportion of lame 
horses in his stud. Mr. T. Assheton Smith, again, used to ride 
thoroughbreds; as also did Mr. J. J. Farquharson (better 
known as the Dorsetshire Squire), and he, like Mr. Smith, 
could not be called a light man, riding, I should think, 15 st. 
Yet no one ever went better than these two masters on their 
thoroughbreds, nor was oftener found with the hounds at 
the end of a long day. 
A notable example of racehorses carrying heavy weights 
for a long course was seen in Mr. Osbaldestone’s match against 
time, in 1831, when he undertook to ride 200 miles in ten 
