48 RACING SADDLERY. 



an extra thickness of leather, as the fracture, when it 

 takes place, almost always occurs at the hole through 

 which the tongue of the buckle passes. 



Lead Cloths. — The trainer should have weight cloths 

 capable of containing different amounts, with their own 

 actual weights respectively marked on them. One or two 

 cloths weighted with leather up to 4 or 5 lbs., will come in 

 useful ; while there should be one, at least, capable of 

 carrying about 21 lbs., so as to obviate the necessity of 

 putting on two small ones, for the saddle will then have 

 less play than it would have were the latter employed. 



Each pocket of the weight cloth is, usually, secured 

 by a strap and buckle for safety sake. The only objec- 

 tion to buckles is that they prevent the flaps of the 

 saddle and those of the pannel from lying flat on the 

 weight cloth. Instead of buckles, the pockets may be 

 secured by loops through which passes a strap that is 

 sewn to the rear part of the cloth, and is attached to 

 a buckle on its front part, which lies beyond the saddle 

 flap. If the buckle be to the rear, the rider, when 

 using the whip, might hurt his knuckles against it. 

 To prevent a weight cloth slipping off during a race, it 

 may be secured, on each side, by a strap and loop ; the 

 former being attached to the front part of the cloth. 



