410 THE HORSE 



may be trapped by steadying" the leader, keeping him 

 back to horses which are not feared, and leaving a small 

 opening to tempt "D " to try to get through; but directly 

 he tries his favourite game the fancied opening is closed up, 

 and " D " appears in the report of the race as " not having 

 been able to find an opening in time." Jockeys such as 

 Fordham, Archer, T, Chaloner, Tom Cannon, and many 

 others never failed to be in their proper places at the right 

 time, and such mischances vs^ere scarcely ever recorded 

 against them, however large the fields in which they rode. 



In the manner of going round a turn, especially a sharp 

 one such as is met with on country courses, ground can be 

 easily gained, or lost. If a jockey races up to a turn at his 

 horse's best pace the latter must perforce steady itself to get 

 round, checking its stride to do so, and being shaken in its 

 frame as well. It then has to get steam up again, and thus 

 ground is necessarily lost. But if the jockey steadies his 

 horse previous to approaching the corner the animal can 

 swing round it with continually increasing velocity, and 

 comes into the straight course beyond at the top of its speed. 

 To do this, however, it is essential that the horse should be 

 leading with the inside fore-leg, for if the outside one is 

 leading the horse cannot retain its balance properly, and 

 may even slip up, and fall, for it is obliged to lean consider- 

 ably over when making the turn. The jockey should take 

 note of which leg is leading before the turn is reached, and 

 if it is the wrong one the horse may be induced to change by 

 pulling the outside rein, thus forcing the head slightly to 

 that side, while at the same time the jockey niggles with his 

 spur on the same side, as far back as he can reach, which 

 usually produces the desired result. An old horse, which 

 knows the game, almost always changes to the proper leg, 

 when necessary, of his own accord before the actual turn 

 is reached. 



Perhaps race-riding may be summed up with these 

 remarks : — 



Obtain a good start. 



Do not race your horse off his legs at starting, but settle him into his 

 stride as soon as possible. 



