An extraordinary general meeting of the Race Club was held last evening' at the Shanghai Club, for the purpose of cou-sidering the question of raising the scale of weights at future race meetings, Mr. H., de Courcy Forbes occupied the Chair, being supported by Messrs. W. Paterson, A. Myburgh, St. C. Michavlson and Barnes Dating (Hon. Secretary). The meeting was a very largo one, numbering considerably over a hundred members, The CHAIRMAN said that after the general meeting held two or three weeks ago letter was sent in with reference to this question of the scale of weights, and it was decided to call a special meeting to cou-sider it, Ho hoped that no personalities would be introduced, but that the matter would be discussed on its merits, If the motion which he was about to introduce were carried it would allow many more men to ride than were able to at present. He wished to remind those who were opposed to raising the weights that those who were light weights to-day would probably be heavy weights to-morrow, and then perhaps they would wish that the resolution which he would bring before them had been carried. 'The rule which he proposed had been in force in Hongkong for many years, and had worked very satisfactorily. Auother point in favour' of raising the scale was that it was very desirable to have a uniform scale of weights for all the priucipal see mugotings in China, The Hong: the Shanghai races would not suffer by the Fong scale ad been adopted in Amoy, and increased weights. The last ground on which he advocated the change was that of humanity. 'The heavy-weight riders injured their health in training down, and he hoped the light-weights would' not adopt the Shylock system of thirsting for pound of flesh (laughter), He moved:
Chat the scale of weights be raised four pounds.
Mr. Parerson seconded the motion.
Mr. Rees said the result of passing the resolution would be that they would have a scrubby little lot of 13 hands and 12.3, ponies, and the big, high ponies would be handicapped out. The Chairman talked about their wanting a pound of flesh from heavy-weight jackies, but he thought they could well afford to give two, three and even four pounds, Mr. Wake thought Mr. Rees was perfectly right. If they looked at the Hongkong races they would Gud that they were nearly all carried off by three or four men, No doubt Me, Forbes was well informed in the matter, but he (Mr. Walker) did not see who were the men whom they were going to bring in by increasing the ts. Ho quite agreed with Mr. Rees the heavy weights could give any amount to the light w jo (Mr. Walker) was under the impression once that a certain crack jockey here could only give him half-a-pound. He made that statement at the time, but he did not think anyone believed him, and he had himself found out his mistake singe (laughter). They would do no good by increasing the weight, but would only drive out the light weights, who were ce well and would come on future, He asked the meeting to vote for the light weights, Mr. Branb said he was a heavy. rider, but he was entirely against the weights. It would simply drive the ponies entirely out of the runing, as the small ponies could carry weights much better than they large ones." When they came to add a penalty of 7lb. to 11st 7, that made 12st, "How were they to run races with that? It was simply killing. For his personal conveniences he should like the weights to be raised, but they ought to look at the matter from a sporting point of view, and as he considered that the result of passing the vote would be injurious to sport, he should vote against it Mr, Ware also opposed the motion. He said they had twenty-four men of whom sixteen rode only ten stone, so that they came well within the present margin Mr. Brpweu1 contended that raising the weight a few pounds would make no perceptible difference. Prejudice had won at Hongkong carrying 12st, and he saw no objection to rai Hongkong standard. the weights to the Under that scale that had had this scase: most glorious race m: ever seen. If they put those List. on one side and the others on the other side they would seo at once what the issue would be, Ho should give his vote in favour of the motion.
The Cuarexas then put the resolution to the meeting, ai on show of hands de-glared it to by carried by G1 votes aguinst
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.