BRITISH TURF. 40^ 



horses' dung, that thereby he may be enticed to 

 stale, and empty his belly as he goes. 



*' 8. Lastly, when you come to the place where 

 you must start, first rub his limbs well, then un- 

 cloathe him, then take his back, and the word 

 given, start him with all gentleness that may be, 

 lest doing anything rashly, you choak him in his 

 own wind. 



*' A race- horse ought to have all the finest 

 shapes that may be, but above all things, he must 

 be nimble, quick, and fiery, apt to fly with the 

 least motion. Long shapes are tolerably good; 

 for though they shew weakness, yet they assure 

 speed. The best horse for this use, is the Arabian 

 Barbary, or his bastard, not but Jennets are good, 

 but the Turks much better. 



** Having laid you down all these advantages 

 for the ordering of your racer, from his taking 

 up, to the day of his running, I hope you will 

 make such good use of them, that if upon an 

 equal match, you should lay your money on the 

 heels of your horse so ordered, he shall be so far 

 from kicking away his master's stake, that the 

 nimbleness of his feet shall make it double. 



"• I might here insert the many subtleties and 

 tricks there are used in making a match ; the 

 craft of the betters, with the knavery of the riders ; 

 but that they are now too generally known, by 

 the woful experience of too many racing-losers," 



