198 WEIGHTS AND DISTANCES. 
By this table, taken promiscuously from the Newmarket 
Houghton Meetings, it will be seen that the welter-weight 
handicaps are liked and patronised, and are still increasing 
in popularity. For in 1873 the average number of runners of 
all ages (fractions not included) was eight in the welter- 
weight against nine in the light-weight handicaps, similar in 
value and distance. And though in 1877 the latter were still 
one in advance of the heavy weights, last year! we find the 
runners in the welter races have surpassed those in the light- 
weight handicaps by two: numerically standing at ten and 
eight respectively. 
To this table I have added the handicaps for two-year-olds 
run at the same place and meetings, to show that owners 
do not object to run their horses even at that age with between 
g and 10st. on them; for we see the top and bottom 
weight of one of these, set at 9st. 2lbs. and 8st. 6lbs. Out 
of the twelve races, the top weight carried 8st. 11 lbs. or 
above it, no less than ten times; whilst in the other two, 
the weights were 8st. 2 lbs. and 8 st.6 lbs., respectively. The 
lowest weight among these 180 horses running in eight races 
out of the twelve was 6st. 7lbs; whilst, in the others, only 
one went below 6 st., carrying 5 st. 12 lbs. Can any races be 
so popular as these? for we see the twelve stakes bringing 
180 horses to the post, averaging fifteen runners for each 
race. Truly what can this be called but the heavy-weight 
system? and not, be it remembered, for three-year-olds and 
upwards, but for two-year-olds. It is also remarkable that 
not one of the above twelve races was won by a lighter 
weight than 7st.; although forty horses that ran carried 
less. But this is a result attributable, to my mind, as might 
be inferred from what I have previously said on the 
! This was written in 1879, 
