THE HOESE. 
9 
THE RACE-HORSE. 
the most favourable for the trial of their peculiar powers. The accident to Sharper, and the distress occasioned him by running 
up a hill, were sufficient to have turned the day against him; hut when to this is added the difference of weight, it is evident that 
the Cossack horses had not the remotest chance of success on equal terms. It would be interesting, however, to repeat this kind 
of trial, though for a less cruel distance, so as to determine in a satisfactory manner the relative powers of two races of horses 
both so excellent of their kind. 
A class of Races introduced into this country has found favour among certain persons, but with little of reason to defend them. 
The Steeple-chase, or, as our ancestors termed it, the Wild-goose chase, is well calculated certainly to show the fearlessness of the 
rider, hut scarcely his humanity and judgment. At any time, the high leap is a severe tax on the muscular powers of the horse; 
hut when he is out of breath, and sinking under the exertion of severe riding, the forcing of him over an obstacle is injurious and 
cruel. The riding across a country is the regular exercise of a hunting field; hut in the Steeple-chase, it is the wanton abuse of 
the powers of a generous creature intrusted to our humanity. It is not justified by any end of utility ; any enjoyment beyond the 
barren applause for risking the safety of the rider and the life of his victim. We say, then, let those unhappy exhibitions of fool¬ 
hardiness and cruelty he proscribed by public opinion, and abandoned by the youth of the country. 
The Rules and Conditions of racing have been gradually reduced to a system, and recognised by common consent. The regu¬ 
lations of Newmarket have the highest authority, and are adhered to in their essential details at the other races. The race may 
consist of heats of one or more miles, in which the winner of the majority of heats becomes the victor; or of matches, consisting 
of a single race, by which the contest is at once determined. The system of heats is adopted in the case of royal and other public 
plates and prizes; the single race generally in the case of private and subscription matches or sweepstakes. But, as an addition 
to the weight carried makes an amazing difference to an animal moving at its utmost speed, the regulation of the weight is an 
essential element in the conditions of a race. When the animals are of the same sex and age, the weights should be the same, in 
order to show their relative powers; hut, when animals of different age and sex contend together, they are put as nearly as possible 
in a state of equality by the difference of weight assigned to each. A larger weight is carried by stallions than by mares or 
geldings. The usual difference between a colt and filly of the same age is 3 or 4 lb., and the ordinary weight carried by a colt 
three years old is 8 st. 6 or 7 lb. The difference allowed for difference of age progressively diminishes as the animals become 
older, until it ceases. But, besides the differences of weight determined by age or sex, there are differences determined by con¬ 
vention. Thus parties having a match together, determine by agreement, founded on their real or supposed knowledge of the 
powers of the respective horses, the weight which each shall carry. This is usually termed a handicap match. Sometimes it is 
stipulated that horses which have gained stakes, as the Oaks or Derby, shall carry an additional weight; while, on the other hand, 
horses whose advantages of breeding or otherwise have been inferior, are allowed a discount of weight in their favour. The dif¬ 
ferences of weight which different classes of horses shall carry, in order that they may he placed in a certain degree of equality, 
are plainly not reducible to any fixed practical rule, much less to any mathematical theorem founded on the l elative powers of the 
horses under different conditions. The whole adjustment is one of convention, based on the piactical obseivation of sportsmen of 
the average powers of horses, as exhibited m different circumstances. "When it is consideied that an ounce of additional loading 
to the same horse may make the difference of a yard or more in half a mile of running, it will be seen how greatly the weight home 
may affect the issue in the case of horses of equal powers. From mere experience, without any application of principles, it is sur¬ 
prising how well those practised in the business of the turf are able to calculate the effects of weight on the chances of success. In 
a match which took place many years ago at Newcastle-under-Line, the horses were handicapped, having their respective weights 
assigned to them by an umpire. Sir Thomas Stanley’s Cedric, three years old, was to carry 6 st. 13 lb.; Mr Mytton’s 
Handel, four years old, 7 st. 11 lb.; Sir William Wynne’s Taragon, four years old, 8 st.; Sir John Egeeton’s Asthury, four 
years old, 8 st. 6 lb. For three successive heats Taragon and Handel came in nose to nose, reeling at the last, and scarce able to 
carry their riders to the scales. In the first heat Asthury was third, hut so near were all the horses that his place could with 
difficulty he determined. Lying by, however, after the first heat, he came forward in a final one, and won. # In the first dead 
heat, it is apparent the weight of a few grains might have turned the scale. 
By the former practice of the turf, the weights were heavy, and the courses long. Up to the commencement of the present 
century, the weights for plate horses were from 10 st. 4 lb. to 11 st. 6 lb., and the heats were of three or four miles. By modern 
practice, the length of heats is reduced to one or two miles, and the weight to about 8-| stones. The weight does not include the shoes 
of the horse, which are therefore made of the lightest construction. The saddle usually weighs 3 or 4 lb., and sometimes it does 
not exceed 2 lb. When weight is to be carried, either the saddle is loaded with lead, or the weight is attached to the person of 
* Mr Apperly, Quarterly Review. 
(C) 
