io6 RACE RIDING. 



terms, the farthest-off one will, of necessity, appear to 

 the spectator to be ahead of the other. It is, therefore, 

 very difficult for the judge, in a close finish, to efface 

 entirely from his mind an impression of, say ten or 

 twelve seconds' duration. It has happened that when 

 the actual winner has finished close under the judge's 

 box, that he was not even placed by that official. If 

 the jockey cannot use his whip in his left hand, he 

 might keep on the whip hand of his most dangerous 

 opponent, who might, if he was on his near side, close 

 in, either intentionally or by his horse swerving, and 

 might thus prevent him from using the whip with the 

 right hand. If the horse has a tendency to swerve off, 

 under punishment, to the outside of a course, it may be 

 just as well to have something on the near side, so as 

 to keep one's own horse straight. 



Before sitting down to finish, it is generally advisable, 

 especially if the race has been run at a strong pace, to 

 take a pull at one's horse for a few strides, so as to 

 enable him to catch his wind, and to collect himself 

 before he makes his effort. 



Care should be taken not to suddenly begin to finish 

 on a long-striding horse ; he should, on the contrary, be 

 prepared for his effort, so that he may not be thrown out 



