Not sure if you have advanced my understanding much or not La mer but thanks anyway.

BELMONT PARK 05/08/06
7
4:17 The Cartwheel (a Welter) 1400m
Welter $40,000
Apprentices Can Claim 3yo+ Handicap Min Hcp Wgt : 53.0

That's race 7 at Belmont yesterday. Volition won it. The only restriction seems to be exclusion of 2 year olds.

Which basically means it's an open race because the minimum weight is pretty much as any other race. They must be as you say. Unkilled ancient terminology. The welter needs welting.

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pipped at the post