THE HORSE. 719 



within the other. The outer is 1^ versts (one mile) long ; the two others are shorter, one by 

 12 sagenes (84 feet), and the other by 23 sagenes (161 feet). The first horse is started on 

 the exterior track, in front of the stand, and the two others, in order to equalize the distance, 

 are started in the rear, on their respective tracks, which are selected by lot. 



The horses come up at a jog, each one to his place. A judge is placed beside each 

 horse, whose duty it is, by waving a bit of cloth, to notify the starter, who is in the stand, 

 that the horse under his charge has arrived at his position. The horses are started from the 

 stand by the stroke of a bell, which sets in motion at the same time the hands of a great dial, 

 which mark minutes and seconds. At the instant that the first horse passes the winning-score, 

 the judge strikes a blow which stops the first hand of the dial, and in the same way for the 

 second horse. This automatic system gives the time of the race, by means of the clock, with 

 out error, and enables the judge, who is placed at the distance-post, to decide which of the 

 horses are distanced, to better know the precise instant when the race is finished. A distance 

 in Russia is 30 sagenes (210 feet) for a race of three versts, and 75 sagenes (525 feet) for a 

 race at a greater distance. Only three false starts are allowed ; after that number the judges 

 can fine the driver of the horse that is responsible for the false starts, or can refuse to allow 

 him to go the course. In case a driver does not try to win with a horse, the judges may fine 

 him, and on a repetition of the offence he is liable to visit Siberia for a couple of years a 

 punishment which I imagine, from what I hear, would be salutary for some of your American 

 drivers. 



A horse is not allowed to make but three breaks during a heat of three versts, and the 

 same number in the deciding heat. If he makes more, he is out of the race, and so is he if 

 he makes more than thirteen jumps in one gallop. Each horse in the race has a judge espec 

 ially assigned to watch his movements, whose decision as to whether the horse makes more 

 than three breaks, or more than the permitted number of jumps in one break, is without ap 

 .peal ; he has only to touch a button of an electric machine designating the offending horse, 

 and a groom on horseback, in front of the stand, at once rushes off to notify his driver to 

 quit the track. 



For all the prizes given by the societies, any one can trot as he pleases to a droschka 

 (the national Russian vehicle, four-wheeled, and very clumsy and heavy as compared with the 

 sulky) or to a sulky with two wheels and four reins. The weight of the vehicle and of the 

 sulky is equally ad libitum for all the prizes given by the societies. The Government, for 

 prizes which it gives, specifies for itself the kind of vehicle, its weight, the weight of the 

 driver, and the distance to be trotted. 



There are two seasons for racing. The summer races occur in May and June, and are 

 trotted twice a week. They are started at six o clock in the evening, the days being so long 

 in Russia that it is light until eleven o clock at night, and thus the heat of the day is avoided, 

 which is an advantage for both the horses and the spectators. 



In winter the races are always trotted on Sundays, and on the ice. But two horses are 

 started at a time, and on the opposite sides of the same course, which is but one verst in 

 length.&quot; 



The droschka referred to, although a clumsy-looking vehicle, is very light, weighing 

 only about seventy pounds. The verst is 3,500 feet in length, being a little less than two- 

 thirds of a mile. 



The best &quot;Orloff &quot; time for thirty versts (twenty miles) is 1 hour 8 minutes 30 seconds. 

 The following table shows favorably for our American trotters : 



Best Russian time. Best American time. Dif . 



One mile 2:31 One mile 2:10i 20Js. 



Twomiles 5:01 Two miles 4:50^-11^3. 



Three miles 7:52| Three miles 7:21i 31is. 



Fivemiles 13:56| Five miles 13:00 56fs. 



Twenty miles 1:08:30 Twenty miles 58:25 10m. 5s. 



