9 o 



come inside the money and assist his owner. This boy is 

 interested. He has determined to become a jockey, and he 

 is going to leave no stone unturned to accomplish that end. 



But when he gets to the saddle, and is ready to go to 

 the post with the instructions of the trainer ringing in his 

 ears, he is, of course, all a-tremble. If the horse he has under 

 him is a slow beginner, the lad is told to hurry him along 

 into a good position and never get out of striking distance. 

 Then to begin to make his run at the last quarter, no matter 

 what the distance may be. As has been said before, he must 

 avoid angles and get home the nearest way, as the trainers 

 put it. If he runs wide at any turn, he has lost just that 

 much ground. 



I would not advise any boy to go out and set the pace 

 if he can help it, save in short dashes. Then the start means 

 everything on a poor horse. The trainer, however, must 

 be the judge of this, and he must tell the boy just what the 

 horse will be able to do. Then the rider knows he must 

 take advantage of every opportunity to improve the chances 

 of his mount. If he is an honest boy, he will do so. 



Pockets are what are to be most carefully avoided for 

 your own horse ; but it is a very good idea, if you can do so, 

 to so ride the inferior horse that you will be able to pocket 

 the superior animal and win from him. But this is one of 

 the tricks that the novice has not acquired. It will come to 

 him later if he is observant. No trainer will be able to teach 

 him this, for no two races are ever run exactly alike and 

 under the same conditions. A horse may get off well placed, 

 far in front or almost left at the post without regard to his 

 speed, and there can be no set rules for playing a neat trick 

 and winning on a dark horse or long shot. Circumstances 

 govern all such cases, and the boy must judge for himself 

 what is best to do. 



I would suggest as a parting admonition that the boy 

 keep as cool and collected as possible, never forgetting for a 

 moment the capabilities of the horse under him, always 

 watching what the others are doing and looking for a 

 chance to forge ahead at the finish. 



A boy to keep in condition should ride as often as pos- 

 sible. If he can ride six or ten races a week, it is all the bet- 

 ter for him. The longer he remains on the ground the 



