\ 

 LIFE WITH THE TROTTERS. 327 



of all the work he does with his horse. I think the ten- 

 dency of most people is to overwork their horses — that is, 

 they give them too much work at a high rate of speed. If 

 you confine yourself to a working gait it will be almost 

 impossible to overwork a horse. I have often worked horses 

 seven or eight heats in one day, but perhaps none of them 

 was within twenty seconds of where the horse could go at his 

 best; in that way you will get him strong and not strain or 

 sore him. 



When you have arrived at the time to start your horse 

 in the race there is a good deal to be thought of. The first 

 thing to find out is what chance, if any, have you to win. 

 This you can only determine by a careful study of all the 

 other horses and drivers and having a correct line on your 

 own. It is not a bad idea to have some good man watch 

 the other horses, if you can not do it yourself. If you con- 

 clude that you have a chance, I am not going to advise you 

 to bet on your horse, that' s entirely outside of training, 

 although I occasionally put a little money on my horses 

 when I think well of them. When the bell rings for the 

 race, be sure that you are on hand to get the word. 

 Have your horse well harnessed and well shod, and it is not 

 a bad idea to have his shoes examined the morning of the 

 race to see that they are all in proj^er place. When you go 

 to the track take everything in the way of tools that you 

 think you can possibly need. Take plenty of good help to 

 take care of the horse between heats. 



Here is a very good time to X)ay a little attention to your 

 own personal appearance. I believe that to be well dressed 

 is a duty every driver owes to the jDublic, as the people pay 

 to be pleased and I think to see a man badly dressed cer- 

 tainly detracts from their xDleasure. There is one other 

 thing that the driver will find of great importance, and that 

 is the judges' stand. My plan is to see how well I can get 

 on with the judges, for they often judge races that are so 

 close that a very little thing will decide for or against you. 

 I think no one understood this part of the business better 



