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, and Geldings, as shall run for his MAJESTY'S PLATES at Newmarket.] I. EVERY horse, mare, or gelding, that runneth for the said Plates, 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 bours 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 Plates, 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 beat, 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, 2nd, 3rd, &c. shall be determined by such judges as shall be appointed for that purpose by the By order, it is altered to One Heat, and different weights are appointed. In the country the Lord Lieutenant, or the person appointed by him, decides where the horses are to be shewn: and the Rules for the King's Plates at Newmarket are applicable to the country. Master of the Horse. 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 owner shall have no benefit of that Plate; but such owner may be permitted to run any horse, mare, or gelding, for any other of his Majesty's Free Plates here after. VIII. Every rider shall, immediately after each heat be run, be obliged to come to the usual place of weighing, 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 as 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. A slight alteration will be observed in the Eighth Rule, as to the place where the jockey is to dismount-this is made with the sanction of his Grace the Duke of Leeds, Master of the Horse to his Majesty. 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 called A.B. Steward, 182, by horse [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 Royal Mews, Pimlico. The Plates at CHESTER and EDINBURGH, and the Hunters' Plate at ASCOT, being given from a different Fund, the certificates are to be addressed to the Keeper of the Privy Purse. The Chester Plate is paid at the Duchy of Lancaster Office, Lancaster place. 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 and sixpence. * If the Lord Lieutenant be officially out of the Kingdom, the signature of the Vice Lieutenant is admissible. The certificates for the Ascot Heath Plates must be signed by the Master of his Majesty's Hounds, instead of the Lord Lieutenant. RULES CONCERNING HORSE RACING IN GENERAL; WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A POST AND HANDICAP MATCH. Horses take their ages from May-day, i.e. a horse foaled any time in CATCH Weights are, each party to appoint any person to ride without weighing. Give-and-take Plates are, fourteen hands to carry stated weights, according to age; all above, or under, to carry extra, or be allowed the proportion of seven pounds to an inch. A Post Match is to insert the age of the horses in the article, and to run any horse of that age, without declaring what horse, till he come to the post to start. A Handicap Match, is A, B, and C, to put an equal sum each 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 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 bat. 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 as to age, provided he carry the same weight as the aged. No person shall start more than one horse of which he is the owner, either wholly or in part, and either in his own name or in that of any other person, for any race for which heats are run. The horse that has his head at the ending-post first, wins the heat. For the best of the plate, where three heats are run, the horse is second that wins one heat. For the best of the heats, the horse is second that beats the other horses twice out of three times, though he do not win a heat. Where a plate is won by two heats, the preference of the horses is determined by the places they get in the second heat. Where a plate or subscription is given for the winner of the best of three heats, a horse, to win the prize, must be the actual winner of two heats, even though no horse appear against him for both or either of the beats. When three horses have each won a heat, they only must start for a fourth, and the preference amongst them will be determined by it, there being before no difference amongst them. In running of beats, if it cannot be decided which horse is first, the heat goes for nothing, and they may all start again, except it be between two horses that had each won a heat. If a rider fall from his horse, and the horse be rode in by a person that is sufficient weight, he shall take his place the same as if his rider had not fallen, provided he go back to the place where the rider fell. Jockies must ride their horses to the usual place for weighing the riders, and he that dismounts before, or wants weight, is distanced ; unless he be disabled by an accident which should render him incapable of riding back, in which case he may be led or carried to the scale. Horses' plates or shoes not allowed in the weight. Horses running on the wrong side of a post and not turning back are distanced. Horses drawn before the plate is won are distanced. Horses are distanced if their riders cross or jostle. All complaints of foul riding must be made before or at the time the jockey is weighed. No distance in a fourth heat. A confirmed bet cannot be off but by mutual consent, except in the cases hereinafter mentioned. Either of the betters may demand stakes to be made, and on refusal, declare the bet to be void. If a better 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, and if no person consent to do so, the bet may be declared void. Bets agreed to be paid or received in London, or any other particular place, cannot be declared off on the Course. If a match or sweepstakes be made for any particular day in any race week, and the parties agree to change the day to any other in the same week, all bets must stand; but if the parties agree to run the race in a different week all bets made before the alteration shall be void. |