278 PRACTICABLE REFORMS. 
rule that disqualifies a horse on the death of the nominator ; 
and I think a judicious revision of the rule might be made. 
The purchaser of any horse with his engagements, should, if 
so notified to Messrs. Weatherby within a given time, be 
able to have him transferred from the nominator to himself, 
and should alone be answerable for the horse’s stakes and 
forfeits, and should be looked upon in every respect as the 
original nominator. Of course if any one, to evade his re- 
sponsibilities, sold a heavily engaged horse that was good for 
nothing, and gave as the purchaser a man of straw, or even 
one not known, or who could not satisfy the Jockey Club of 
his power to pay the forfeits or stakes as they became due, 
the horse should then still remain the property of the vendor 
so far as his stakes and forfeits were concerned, unless the 
amount were paid into Messrs. Weatherby’s hands to cover 
them. This would simplify matters and operate justly to all. 
The comfort of all true lovers of the turf, would, I feel sure, 
be increased, and the condition of those connected with it 
improved, by restricting racing to a certain number of days 
in each week. Lord George Manners exercised his influence 
with the Jockey Club beneficially, by restricting all meetings 
at Newmarket, the Houghton meeting excepted, to five days ; 
an example that might be worthily followed by the officials 
elsewhere. But the restriction might be carried further with 
increased advantage. I would have the racing at all meetings 
confined to four days in the week; leaving the Monday for the 
settling at Tattersall’s, and the Saturday for yearling sales— 
for men can only be in one place at a time. 
If it should happen that all the races set down could not 
be run off within the four days, some of the minor stakes 
might with advantage be amalgamated to reduce the number 
and increase the individual value of them; or should such a 
