KING'S PLATE ARTICLES.

IT is His MAJESTY's Command, that these following Rules be observed by the Owners and Riders of all such Horses, Mares, or Geldings, as shall run for His MAJESTY'S PLATES at Newmarket.

I. EVERY horse, mare, or gelding, that runneth for the said Plate, shall carry twelve stone; fourteen pounds to the stone, three heats *.

II. Every person that putteth in a horse, mare, or gelding, for the said Plate, is to shew such horse, mare, or gelding, with the marks, name, and name of the Owner, to be entered at the King's Stables in Newmarket the day before they run; and shall then produce a certificate under the hand of the breeder, that his horse, mare, or gelding, be no more than years old the grass before. III. Every horse, mare, or gelding, that runneth, is to start between the hours of one and four in the afternoon; and to be allowed half an hour between each heat to rub. IV. Every horse, mare, or gelding, that runneth on the wrong side of the Posts or Flags, or is distanced in any of the heats, shall have no share of the said Plate, nor be suffered to run any more.

V. The horse, mare, or gelding, that winneth any two heats, winneth the Plate; but if three several horses, mares, or geldings, win each of them a heat, then those three, and only they, to run a fourth heat; and the horse, mare, or gelding, that winneth the fourth heat, shall have the Plate.

VI. And each horse's, mare's, or gelding's place as he or they come in, by the ending Post, each heat, as 1st, 2d, 3d, &c. shall be determined by such judges as shall be appointed for that purpose, by the Master of the Horse.

* By order, this is altered to One Heat, and different weights are appointed.

And in case any horse, mare, or gelding, shall be then, or after, proved to be above the age of years the grass before, the Owner or Owners of such horse, mare, or gelding, shall be made incapable of ever running for any of the King's Plates hereafter.

VII. As many of the riders as shall cross, jostle, or strike, or use any other foul play, as shall be judged by such person or persons as shall be appointed by the Master of the Horse, such rider shall be made incapable of ever riding any horse, mare, or gelding, for any of his Majesty's Plates hereafter; and such Owners shall have no benefit of that Plate; but such Owners may be permitted to run any horse, mare, or gelding, for any other of his Majesty's free Plates hereafter.

VIII. Every rider shall, immediately after each heat be run, be obliged to come to the Ending Post with his horse,. mare, or gelding, then and there to alight, and not before, and there to weigh to the satisfaction of the judges appointed for that purpose.

IX. And in case of neglect or refusal thereof, such owners' and riders shall be immediately declared incapable of running or riding any more for this or any of his Majesty's Plates hereafter.

X. And in case any difference shall arise, relating to their ages, or in their running, or to these his Majesty's Orders, &c. the same to be determined by such person or persons who shall be appointed by the aforesaid Master of the Horse.

These Articles will continue in force for succeeding years, unless directed to the contrary by his Majesty.

VOL. XLII.

FORM OF A CERTIFICATE

OF HAVING WON

A KING'S PLATE.

THESE are to certify, that his Majesty's Plate of a Hundred Guineas, was won at

the

day of

181 by

's chesnut horse, called

[The Signature of the Lord Lieutenant alone is sufficient, but that can seldom be obtained without first producing to him a Certificate, signed by the Steward and Clerk of the Course.]

N. B. The Certificate, when properly signed, is payable at sight to the winner of the Plate (or to any other person, if endorsed by the winner) at the Office of the Clerk of his Majesty's Stables, in the King's Mews, London.

Since the alteration in the Act of Parliament, respecting Stamps for Receipts, the Clerk of the Stables requires the person presenting a Certificate for payment, to provide a Receipt Stamp of the proper value, which at present is two shillings.

*If the Lord Lieutenant be out of the Kingdom, the Signature of the person regularly deputed by him is admissible. The Certificate for the Ascot-Heath Plate must be signed by the Master of his Majesty's Hounds, instead of the Lord Lieutenant.

( xxxiii)

RULES AND ORDERS

OF THE

JOCKEY CLUB.

THAT every person who shall ride at Newmarket for Plate, Sweepstakes, or Match, shall be obliged to weigh when he comes in, allowing two pounds above the weight, and no

more.

That every rider who shall neglect to obey this resolution, is guilty of contempt of the Order of this Club, and shall be disqualified from riding hereafter at Newmarket; unless any Gentleman, or his rider, shall declare, before starting, that the rider is above the weight allowed of by the aforesaid resolution.

That the forfeits of all bets which shall be made after the first day of January, 1768, shall be paid according to the proportion in which the Principals compromise their matches.

That any person desirous of being admitted into the Coffeeroom, Newmarket, must be proposed by a Member of the Jockey Club, and his name put over the chimney and door the day before he is to be ballotted for; that there must be at least twelve members present at the ballot, and three black balls exclude.

That the owner of every horse, &c. entered to run for two or more prizes on the same day, shall for the future be obliged to declare to the Keeper of the Match-book before eight o'clock in the evening preceding the day of running, which of the said Prizes he intends to start his horse for; and the said Keeper of the Match-book shall immediately declare it in the coffee-room.

To meet annually at dinner the day preceding the King's birth-day.

That three members of the Jockey Club shall be appointed Stewards, and to commence their office on the fourth of June annually. One new Steward to be appointed every

year on the third day of June, by the Steward who quits on that day, subject to the approbation of the members of the Jockey Club then present.

The first and second vacancy of the three Stewards now named, are to be settled by drawing lots; and ever afterwards the senior Steward is to quit his office on the third of June annually.

That three Stewards, or any two of them, shall be vested with full power to make such regulations as they think proper, in regard to the exercise-ground and the course.

That the three Stewards, concurring, shall have it in their power to appoint such person or persons as they may chuse, to keep the coffee-room, match-book, receive the Stakes, and to collect the entrance-money and all other funds belonging to the Jockey Club.

The Stewards are to be responsible to the Jockey Club for all the money collected as belonging to the Club.

The Stewards shall have it in their power to fix the hour of starting for each Match, &c. but they shall be obliged to fix those hours of starting by eight o'clock in the evening preceding the day of running.

The accounts are to be produced by the Stewards annually on the third of June.

That 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 to do so by his master); or if any person as afore said, 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 being 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 or persons so found guilty, shall be dismissed from the service of his or their master, and the said persons shall not be employed by any member of the Jockey Club, in any capacity whatsoever; 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 coffee-room at Newmarket.