438 LIFE WITTI THE TIIOTTERS. 



Meeting" were made for half-mile heats, and you have 

 trained accordingly. Repeat the colt quarters at nearly his 

 best sj^eed, starting from the wire. In this way you teach 

 him to go away well, without excitement, and in short races 

 with colts a good start is a winning point. Endeavor now 

 to give him such education as will help him in his race. 

 J)o not have your colt get a notion of hesitating and w^ant- 

 ing to turn around to come back after leaving the wire, 

 which they will do if you are not careful. To avoid this 

 do not turn around twice in the same place. Be careful 

 not to let the colt get so he knows better what is to be done 

 than you do yourself. Arrange matters with him in a satis- 

 factory manner, with the exception always that the driver 

 is the head. The colt very soon learns to know if you are 

 in earnest, and does not need much encouragement to have 

 his own way, and will try to hold an argument with you. 



Drive him in ccmipany a good deal, taking different 

 positions. He will not get the pole except when entitled to 

 it, and if accustomed to always having it at home, he will 

 feel awkward without it when awaj^ Teach him to drive 

 close to the wheel of another sulky, use your whip around 

 him in a noisy but gentle way, but never stinging him. Let 

 it rattle in the wheel until he gets accustomed to the noise 

 without frightening him . If you don' t, some ' ' Smart Aleck ' ' 

 with a dull, spiritless dung-hill of a colt that has no possi- 

 ble chance of winning will make it his particular business 

 to have his whip in the wheel all the time except right 

 under the judges' stand. In fact get the colt as nearly as 

 possible accustomed to what may happen on a race- track in 

 Jersey. 



With this learned and the last payment made in the 

 stake, it is best to ship the colt two or three days before the 

 meeting commences. Put him in the car with a companion 

 he is acquainted with if possible. Avoid making any 

 change of the groom who takes care of him, because you 

 are going to the races; keep the same man with him. If 

 you do not the colt will miss his attendant and perhaps get 



