388 RACE RIDING. 



WAITING IN FRONT. 



Many horses, like what Saunterer was, are such hard pullers, 

 that in a slow run race they cannot be kept behind, without 

 more being " taken out " of them than the extra pace would 

 do, were they allowed to go freely. If a horse of this kind 

 is not a fine stayer, his jockey should wait in front with 

 him ; in other words, he should merely keep in front without 

 forcing the running on his own account, and should simply 

 conform to the pace of those immediately behind him, until the 

 moment arrives for him to make his effort. An impetuous 

 horse should never be kept back to an extent which will cause 

 him to " fight in his gallop." Instead of doing that, his jockey 

 should allow him to go at a speed just beyond that at which 

 he would expend his strength in the air. A fast pace will 

 steady, as well as hold, most horses. 



KEEPING WITH ONE'S HORSES. 



The easiest of all tactics to pursue is to keep with one's 

 horses until the finish, and then to come away if one can. 



GENERAL REMARKS ON RACE RIDING. 

 A jockey should generally avoid keeping alongside any 

 of the other horses, especially when he is on an impetuous 

 animal ; for galloping stride for stride is liable to excite a 

 horse, and to throw him out of the even, steady stroke he 

 ought to preserve. On the contrary, he should, if not 

 wanting to force the running, keep behind, or a little to 

 one side, of some horse in front, and wait till he gives way to 

 take his place, or until the time comes for " getting through." 

 It has often happened that the best horse in a race has 

 lost it from some of the other jockeys racing directly along- 

 side him, from time to time, in order to make him pull and 

 tire himself out. In acting thus, a jockey, of course, inten- 



