HORSE-RACING.

Rules concerning Horse racing in general, with a description of a Post and Handicap Match.

Horses take their ages from May-day.

1760 Yards are a Mile.

240 Yards are a Distance.

Four Inches are a Hand.

Fourteen Pounds are a Stone.

Catch Weights are, each party to appoint any person to ride without weighing.

Give and Take Plates are, fourteen hands to carry a stated weight, all above, or under, to carry extra, or be allowed, the proportion of seven pounds for an inch.

A Whim Plate is, weight for age, and weight for inches.

A Post Match,-is to insert the ages of the horses in the articles, and to run any horse of that age, without declaring what horse, till you come to the Post to start.

A Handicap Match, is for A, B, and C, to put an equal sum into a hat. C, who is the handicapper, makes a match for A and B, who, when they have perused it, put their hands into their pockets, and draw them out closed, then they open them together, and if both have money in their hands, the match is confirmed; if neither has money, it is no match. In both cases the handicapper draws all the money out of the hat; but if one has money in his hand, and the other none, then it is no match; and he that has money in his hand is entitled to the deposit in the hat.

The horse that has his head at the Ending Post first, wins the heat,

Riders must ride their horses to the Weighing Post to weigh, and he that dismounts before, or wants weight, is distanced.

If a rider fall from his horse, and the horse be rode in by a person who is of sufficient weight, he will take place the same as if it had not happened, provided he go back to the place where the rider fell.

Horse plates or shoes not allowed in the weight.

Horses not entitled to start, without producing a proper certificate of their age, if required, at the time appointed in the articles, except where aged horses are includ. ed, and in that case, a junior horse may enter without a certificate, provided he carry the same weight as the aged.

All bets are for the best of the Plate, if nothing is said to the contrary.

For the best of the Plate, where there are three heats run, the horse is second that wins one.

For the best of the heats, the horse is second that beats the other twice out of three times, though he does not win a heat.

A confirmed bet cannot be off without mutual consent. Either of the bettors may demand stakes to be made, and on refusal, 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; if no person will consent to it, the bet may be declared void.

Bets agreed to pay or receive in town, or at any other particular place, cannot be declared off on the course,

At Newmarket, if a match be made for a particular day, in any meeting, and the parties agree to change the day, all bets must stand; but if run in a different meeting, the bets made before the alteration are void.

The person who lays the odds, has a right to choose his horse, or the field.

When a person has chosen his horse, the field is what starts against him, but there is no field without one starts with him.

If odds are laid without mentioning the horse before it is over, it must be determined as the bets were at the time of making it.

Bets made in running are not determined till the

Plate is won, if that heat is not mentioned at the time of betting.

Where a Plate is won by two heats, the preference of the horses is determined by the places they are in the second heat.

Horses running on the wrong side of the Post, and tot turning back, distanced.

Horses drawn before the Plate is won, are distanced. Horses distanced, if their riders cross and jostle when the articles do not permit it.

A bet made after the heat is over, if the horse betted on does not start, is no bet.

When three horses have each won a heat, they only must start for a fourth, and a preference between them will be determined by it, there being before no difference between them.

No distance in a fourth heat.

Bets determined, though the horse does not start, when the word Absolutely, Run or Pay, or Play or Pay, are made use of in betting.

Example-I bet that Mr. Robinson's bl. h. Sampson Absolutely wins the King's Plate at Newmarket next meeting: the bet is lost though he does not start, and won though he goes over the course himself.

In running of heats, if it cannot be decided which is first, the heat goes for nothing, and they may all start again, except it be in the last heat, and then it must be between the two horses, that if either had won, the race would have been over, but if between two, that the race might not have been determined, then it is no heat, and the others may all start again.

Horses that forfeit, are the beaten horses, where it is run or pay.

Bets made on horses winning any number of Plates that year, remain in force till the first day of May. Money given to have a bet laid, not returned, if not

run.

To propose a bet, and say done first to it, the person that replies done to it, makes it a confirmed bet.

Matches and bets are void on the decease of either party, before determined.

New Rules and Regulations of the Jockey Club, and Private Decisions.

All disputes relative to racing at Newmarket shall, for the future, be determined by three Stewards of the Club, and two referees to be chosen by the parties concerned; if there are only two Stewards present, they are to fix on a third person in lieu of the absent Steward.

If for any sweepstakes or subscription, the first two horses shall come in so near together, that the judge shall not be able to decide which won, those horses shall run for such prize over again, after the last match on the same day. The other horses which started for such sweepstakes or subscription, shall be deemed losers, and entitled to their respective places, as if the race had been finally determined the first time.

All bets determined by one event, shall be subject to any compromise made by the principals, and paid in proportion to such compromise: but all double bets shall, for the future, (on account of the frequent disputes which have arisen) be considered as play or pay bets. But there is considered a distinction to the latter rule; for instance, if a bet is made on two events, and the first is off by mutual consent, without any compromise, the bet is void; but if sixpence only was paid by way of compromise, then the whole amount is won or lost, as the event may happen.

When any match or sweepstakes shall be made, and no particular weights specified, the horses, &c. shall carry eight stone seven pounds each; and if any weight is given, the highest weight is, by this resolution, fixed at eight stone seven pounds.

All bets depending between any two horses, either in match or sweepstakes, are null and void, if those horses become the property of one and the same person, or his avowed confederate, subsequent to the bets being made.

When any match is made, in which crossing and jostling are not mentioned, they shall be understood to be barred.

All forfeits or money paid on compromising any match, shall, bona fide, be declared and entered in the day-book, in order that all bettors may be put upon an equality with the person who had the match or sweepstakes, and may thus ascertain in what proportion they are to pay and receive.

In case any gentleman who keeps running horses has cause to complain of any feeder, rider, groom, boy, or other person employed by him in, or intrusted with the knowledge of trials, of having discovered them, directly or indirectly, by betting, or wilfully in any other way, (unless allowed so to do by his employer) or if any person as aforesaid, living with any gentleman, shall be discovered in watching trials himself, or procuring other persons so to do, or by any unfair means whatsoever endeavouring to discover trials; on such complaint be. ing carried to any one of the Stewards, that Steward is to summon a general Jockey Club meeting as soon as convenient, which meeting is to appoint a committee of three members, to examine into the accusation; and in case they shall be of opinion that the person or persons is or are guilty of it, then the person so found guilty shall be dismissed from the service of his employer, and the said person shall not be employed by any mem. ber of the Jockey Club, in any capacity whatever; nor shall any horse, &c. fed or rode by him or them, or in the management of which he or they are concerned, be suffered to start for Plate, Match, or Subscription. And the names of the persons found guilty of these offences shall be exposed in the Racing Calendar, and inserted in a paper to be fixed up in the coffeeroom at Newmarket.

The owners of horses, &c. engaged in Matches or Sweepstakes, in which the forfeits shall amount to one hundred guineas, or upward, shall be entitled to a deduction of ten per cent. if they declare their forfeits by half past nine the evening preceding running.