l6o THE MERRY GEE-GEE 



when mounted ; and, when cantering down 

 to the post, sits as still as a mouse, and 

 does not maul his head about, as one 

 so often sees done. I am prepared to 

 admit there is ground for the contention 

 that there is less resistance to the wind- 

 pressure when sitting in his crouching 

 attitude than straight up, but I do not 

 attribute this or the concentration of 

 weight on the horse's withers to his re- 

 markable success, so much as his judgment 

 of pace, his quick beginning, and letting 

 them come along. Whilst I very much 

 doubt his control over wayward horses 

 is so great, sitting where he does, as 

 where our jockeys sit, I am also dubious 

 as to its efficacy when coming downhill. 

 We should see this tested more fully 

 on courses like Epsom and Brighton, and, 

 so far, I am not aware that Sloan has 

 performed on any but flat or uphill courses 



