284 TRAINING THE TROTTING HORSE. 



that he has shown speed enough in his brushes to 

 justify the behef that he will do himself credit in 

 public. 



The question is, how fast is it necessary for him to 

 go to win ? At Palo Alto we do not think we have 

 very much to "bank on" unless the colt can show us 

 quarters in thirty-three to thirty-four seconds, but a 

 man need not be discouraged because his three-year- 

 old cannot quite do that. To illustrate our method of 

 preparation for races, however, we will sup])ose the 

 colt can show a quarter in thirty-four or thirty-five 

 seconds, that he is going level and right, and that he 

 has his engagement to meet in three weeks from Mon- 

 da3^ Sunday with me is always a day of rest, for 

 horses and men. Even if I race on Monday, Sunday 

 is the same, and I have found it good policy to keep 

 it in this way, not to speak of moral obligations. 



Monday, after the usual morning programme, we 

 will jog him from five to eight miles, according to age 

 (usually not over five in the case of a two or a three- 

 year-old), on the track or road. A jog on a good road 

 is very beneficial, as it breaks the monotony of track- 

 work, and is in a measure interesting to the colt. 

 Tuesday, at the accustomed time, jog him say about 

 three miles — just enough to have him empty himself 

 and get warmed ready for work — and then put on his 

 quarter-boots and give him three or four brushes of 

 about a quarter of a mile each, finishing all strongs 

 and the last one about up to his limit. The next day, 

 "Wednesday, we will jog about three miles again, the 

 jogging always being merely for the purposes named, 

 and after scoring a few times give him a mile in about 



