RACE RIDING 157 



outside chance. These two were leading about a quarter of a 

 mile from home, and the jockey of the ultimate winner, about 

 a length and a half behind, pulled back another half length. 

 ' They had three little races all to themselves a long way from 

 the post,' he explained afterwards, * so when we got near home 

 and I saw they were going to have another, I thought I would 

 join in.' Patience was rewarded. 



On the occasion that these wise words were spoken to the 

 present writer, Tom Cannon had something to say of other 

 periods of the struggle, one remark being, c If you can't hold a 

 horse with a gentle pull, try a gentler still ; it's just like trout 

 fishing, you want to be as delicate as that; and as for the whip, 

 the great thing is to see if one or two strokes will not do it in 

 the last three strides.' 



We feel that in this chapter only the fringe of the subject 

 has been touched ; but perhaps enough has been said to show 

 that race riding is a very much more intricate and difficult art 

 than the careless observer would suppose. 



Early days. 



