THE TROTTING-IIORSE OF AMERICA. 177 



As it was, I had a deal of trouble to get him inside the 

 distance. The third heat was a close struggle, and any- 

 body's race every inch of the way. Suffolk tried her ut- 

 most, and hung on to the last stride, like a dog to a root. 

 It is not certain to my mind but that she might have won 

 it, if Bryan had let his whip alone, and helped her out with 

 the bit. I am of the persuasion, that, unless a horse is a 

 real slug, the whip does more harm than good in a head- 

 and-head struggle. Natural emulation then incites the 

 horse to do all he knows in such circumstances ; and the 

 business of the rider or driver is to aid his efforts and assist 

 him, not to keep leathering away at him with the whip ; 

 which is no aid at all, and is more likely to make him 

 swerve, or give up in disgust. In a tight squeeze, with a 

 generous horse, the bit is the thing to win with. 



