RACE RIDING. 133 



plan for making rogues run kindly. A stimulant is 

 often advisable, after a race, when the horse has to run a 

 second time on the same day. 



Some horses won't extend themselves unless spurs are 

 on ; others will " shut up " if they get the slightest prick. 

 The same can be said of the whip. At almost every 

 meeting we see races lost by inattention to horses' pecu- 

 liarities, so it behoves the trainer and jockey to find out 

 those of their animals. If a horse will not stand spurs, 

 or runs unkindly when they are used, the rider, after 

 taking them off, may, with advantage, in the prelimi- 

 nary canter, give his horse a couple of kicks in the ribs, 

 just to show him that he need not fear the Latchfords. 



Old horses, which are somewhat stiff on their legs, 

 should have a steady preliminary canter for half mile or 

 more, to warm them up before starting. 



During a race, as a rule, one ought to avoid horses 

 directly alongside, especially when on an impetuous 

 animal. 



A jockey should allow a horse, that is at all shifty, 

 to make his own running and effort while interfering 

 with him as little as possible. All horses very quickly 

 learn what a race means, and I believe that better results 

 would be obtained, than we get, by trusting to their judg- 

 ment, oftener than we do, concerning how races should 

 be run. I have seen several instances of success having 

 been secured by acting thus. 



When coming up the " straight run in," if one finds 

 that the leader has the race easy, one should get directly 

 behind him, on the chance that he may slacken speed to 

 look round, or at his boots, or at the Stand, and then 



