RULES CONCERNING HORSE RACING IN GENERAL. Horses take their ages from 1st of January. 1760 Yards are a Mile. 240 Yards are a Distance. Four Inches are a Hand. 2 ap 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 age 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 have money, it is no Match. In both cases the Handicapper draws all the money out of the hat; but if one has money in 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. 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 is rode in by a person that is sufficient weight, he will take place the same as if it had not happened, provided he goes back to the place where the rider fell. Horses' 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 included; and in that case a junior horse may enter without a certificate, provided he carries the same weight as the aged. 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 the 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 the party is 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 consents 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. If a Match is made for any 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 that 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 bet 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 not 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. If a horse wins the first heat, and all others draw, they are not distanced if he starts no more; but if he starts again by himself, the drawn horses are distanced. 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 the 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 words absolutely run, or pay or play, are made use of in betting. Example I bet that Robinson's bh Sampson absolutely wins the King's Plate at the Curragh next Meeting. The bet is lost though he does not start, and won though he goes over the course by himself. A bet made that a horse wins any number of Plates in a fixed time is void if he does not start for one. After he has started for one, provided there is a field, the bet is lost if he starts no more. 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 start again. Horses that forfeit are the beaten horses where it is pay or play. 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, 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. No allowance for waste for any race except a Plate. |