220 TRAINING AND RACING. 



that are at all shy feeders, or are easily upset by work, 

 should have this extra day's rest every week. 



What we call, half speed is considerably faster 

 than if the distance were done in twice as long a time 

 as the horse could do it at full speed ; while the same 

 remark applies to three-quarter and quarter speed. 

 The latter is in reality about seven annas, half speed 

 somewhat better than ten annas, and three-quarter speed 

 about fourteen annas (adopting the custom of counting 

 pace by annas.) Thus, for a horse that can. do his mile 

 in 1m. 50s., the time that he would take to do that dis- 

 tance at the different rates, would be about as follows : 



Quarter speed .. ... ... 4 mins. 



Half speed ... ... ... 2 50 sees. 



Three-quarter speed... ... ... 2 10 



Full speed ... ... ... 1 min 50 



As a rule, a uniform pace should be maintained during 

 each gallop, for nothing upsets a horse's style of going, 

 and temper, more than " putting on the steam " the 

 moment he enters the straight run in. Horses accus- 

 tomed to this practice often refuse to extend themselves, 

 until their " heads are turned home," and then, either 

 bolt, or run away. This, of course, would be fatal in a 

 race. 



The speed and distance of the weekly work that I 

 have detailed, should be gradually increased as the 

 preparation proceeds. Thus, a second-class Waler, say, 

 one who could do his mile wich weight for age up in 

 1m. 50s., might commence doing his half mile gallops 

 in 1m. 50s., and towards the close of this prepara- 

 tion do the mile in 2m. 40s. 



