DRIVING, RIDING, HUNTING, RACE-RIDING 407 



slight slip or a changing of its legs, or a cannon from another 

 horse, any of which occurrences will cause it to lose from 

 half a length to two or three lengths, if no time is given to 

 allow it to steady itself and again get into its stride. 

 Corners of race-courses are now so eased off that they do not 

 have so much effect as formerly ; but no horse can go at its 

 best pace round a corner if it happens to be leading with the 

 outer fore-leg, and if it is noted that a dangerous competitor 

 is going round on the wrong leg a rival jockey should force 

 the pace to its utmost, when the other must lose two or three 

 lengths in consequence. Sometimes a jockey will commit 

 the fatal error of trying to come up alongside another while 

 actually on the turn, when, if there is no danger of another 

 getting up on the inside in the meantime, the leading jockey 

 can allow the other to creep up to his horse's neck, and then, 

 pulling the outer rein, is able to shoulder his competitor 

 across the course for two or three strides without actually 

 touching the horse ; quickly straightening his own 

 horse again he will gain from the other about a couple 

 of lengths, for it is impossible for the outer jockey to 

 straighten his mount until the inner one allows him to do 

 so, or so quickly as the other. It requires a nicety of judg- 

 ment on the part of the inner jockey, for if he does not allow 

 the other horse to get alongside far enough, or lets him get 

 too far up, he cannot in either case put the manoeuvre 

 into practice. Whenever such an advantage is gained it 

 must be made the most of, and the horse urged almost to its 

 best pace, only a sHght hold being still kept upon the 

 reins. 



When all goes well, and about three parts of the distance 

 has been covered, and the jockey's mount is still going 

 within his best pace, it is necessary to creep up alongside the 

 leaders and find out whether it has the pace of them or not. 

 If at once they increase their pace on being reached, and the 

 horse can keep with them, it should be let out yet a little 

 more, if possible, to see if it can get them stretched to the 

 utmost ; and if this can be done, whilst your horse has still 

 a httle in hand, keep it at the neck of the others, and 

 conserve its powers for the final struggle. If, however, you 



