TKACKS. 279 



CHAPTER XXY. 



TEACKS SHAPE AXD TREATSIEXT THE EGG-SHAPED TEACK 



THE CUSHIOX^READY FOR EACIXG PEEPAEATIOX 



THE COLT MUST BE GOIXG SQUAEE CHECKS AND BITS 



AGAIN OBSERVATIONS OF JOHN SPLAN — HIS EXPEEI- 



ENCE WITH FANNY WITHEESPOON DRIVING WITH a 



WATCH THE PREPARATION FOR RACING A WEEK'S 



DAILY PROGRAMME DETAILED PRESERVING SPEED 



WHILE CONDITIONING THE HORSE TO CARRY IT TREAT- 

 MENT VARIES WITH DIFFERENT HORSES THE IMPOR- 

 TANCE OF PROPER JOGGING THE TRAINER MUST NOT 



TRUST DETAILS TOO MUCH TO HIS STABLE ASSISTANTS. 



Having discussed the stable care of the horse we are 

 workmg, we will now return to the track. 



In speaking of the necessary facilities for training 

 we cannot omit some remark on the track itself. For 

 racing of course the regulation track is best; but for a 

 home training track I like an egg-shaped one, so 

 planned that the stretches come to and go away from 

 the barn. I have already spoken of the habit occa- 

 sionally contracted by colts of turning out toward the 

 track-gate every time they pass it in their work, and 

 the reason of my recommendation of an egg-shaped 

 track, with the short turn near the stables, is obvious. 

 Goino^ on the stretch awav from the barn the colt groes 

 straight about his business ; coming down the stretch 

 toward the barn he brushes fast and willingly. 



