Antiques M.S. Rau | English Jockey Scale By Pooly & Son

This Handsome English Jockey Scale Comes From Pooly &Amp; Son Of Liverpool, One Of The Leading Manufacturers Of Weighing Machines In The 19Th Century. These Ingenious Scales Were Used At English Tracks To Determine The Jockey’S Weight Before A Big Race. This Was Done To Prevent Any One Jockey From Being Lighter Than The Rules Regulated, Which Would Give Him And His Horse An Advantage Over Their Competitors. The Jockey Would Sit In The Seat, And This Chair’S Built-In Scale Would Display His Weight.

This Particular Scale Once Resided At The York Racecourse, An Historic Racing Venue In York, England. Horse Racing In York Dates As Far Back As 208 A.D., But The First Race On What Is Considered The Current York Track Took Place On August 16, 1731. York Racecourse Was The First Racing Venue In History To Build A Grandstand In 1756.

Scale Marked “Henry Pooly &Amp; Son / Patentees / Liverpool / &Amp; 89 Fleet St. London”
Plaque Marked “York Racecourse 1889”

Circa 1889

36 7/8″ Wide X 18 5/8″ Deep X 45 1/2″ High