350 LEADING QUESTIONS. 



in fact, any thing like a satisfactory one, he must at 

 least ask the following questions : 



" How has he been treated during the last six 

 months ?" 



" How is he in point of condition now ?" 



" Is he quite thorough-bred, or is he bond fide a 

 cocktail?" 



"What is his age?" 



" Is he a delicate one, or a hardy one, that throws 

 up flesh quickly ?" 



" How are his legs and feet ?" 



" What length will he have to go in his first race ?" 



" Is he to run heats or only a race ? " 



" What sort of a temper has he ? " 



Supposing these questions to have been answered, 

 and supposing those answers could be depended on 

 (a thing very much to be doubted from such a man 

 as would have put them), and the trainer finds 

 the horse to be of a given age, with ordinary, that 

 is medium, qualities as to temper and constitution, 

 and that he is to go in a race of such length as horses 

 of his age usually go, he certainly could give some- 

 thing like a definite reply as to the time he might 

 reasonably suppose it would take to bring him fit to 

 run. 



All this would, however, be probably set at naught 

 by unforeseen circumstances; and on the promised day, 

 the horse, with every care having been used on the 

 part of the trainer, may comparatively be scarcely fit 

 to run for a " man's hat/' while those he meets may be 

 fit to run for his life. Weather may have stopped his 

 exercise, or what would be worse, his work; true, 

 those who may have to go with him will have been 

 stopped also, but the stopping either exercise or work 



