TRAINING AND RIDING. 127 



In sucli a club they would be free from public- 

 house surroundings, and would have their billiards 

 in peace and quietness. Most jockeys, I find, are 

 fond of a game at billiards. 



It does not look well to see jockeys hanging 

 about the entrance of Tattersalls' Club and other 

 places. 



Very few jockeys in Australia have retaining 

 fees, and are constantly on the look out for chance 

 mounts. For a big race-meeting a jockey will pro- 

 bably be engaged to ride for a stable, and certain 

 jockeys may generally be depended upon to ride 

 for certain owners or stables, but, as I said before, 

 very few have retaining fees. 



There is a vast difference in the way races are 

 ridden in the Colonies to the old country. 



Waiting tactics are not often resorted to, and 

 it is generally a hot pace the full distance. 



The severe two miles of the Melbourne Cup 

 course is run at full speed, and there is not much 

 chance of waiting on the road. This system of 

 riding is in a great measure due to the time test. 

 If a horse is timed to run two miles in say 3'29 or 

 3*30, then he has to do it in the race if possible. 

 A slow run race is an exception. I mean, as a 

 rule, the horses go at their top, but they may not 

 be fast enough to make good time. 



It would surprise many people to see the rate 



