44 HAY SEED, OR HOW TO 



general surroundings, but don't unnecessarily excite him. 

 When the judges have drawn the position for each 

 horse the bell will call you all up, and you will proceed 

 to weigh, get your colors and position. When you are 

 all ready to score for a start, you will go to the distance 

 stand, or where you think best, watching the rest closely, 

 and turn as soon as any of them and come down to the wire 

 in the position assigned to you. You will never get the 

 word the first attempt, but if it is not a "go" you will be 

 signaled by the bell to come back, where as if it is a 

 ''go " the judges will say "go," in which case go on. If 

 you have the pole and can keep it, do so, and don't 

 ''shrink" or "cringe" if some chap comes close to you. 

 Never let anybody drive you into the fence nor carry 

 you out on the turns; stay where you are and keep your 

 horse level. If any of them can out trot you they will be 

 entitled to the pole, but never have any fear at this 

 point; remember if they run into you, you can hurt them 

 as much as they do you, and if you don't flinch they will 

 not try it again. Drivers do not ordinarily drive into a 

 man known to be resolute and game ; when they do it is 

 owing to being mistaken in the man. If your horse hap- 

 pens to leave his feet don't snatch him, but let him take 

 one, two or three jumps, steady him, and by a little skill- 

 ful management you will be able to land him on his feet 

 without slacking his pace, as a steady pull to land him 

 in a trot is the proper thing. It is all wrong to teach a 

 trotter when he leaves his feet to come almost to a stand- 

 still before you catch him, as you will lose so much 

 ground you will not be able to regain it and thereby 

 lose the heat. If it is evident that you can win the heat 

 and you want to do so, go on ; but there is no use in 

 winning with a dozen lengths to spare. You will save 

 getting a lower mark for your horse by winning by a 

 length, and it will answer all purposes. After you have 

 won the heat, or finished it, slacken the gait and jog back 

 to the stand, where your rubber should be to take the 

 horse, while you dismount, by permission of the judges, 

 and weigh, which by consulting the rules of the National 



