288 TRAINING THE TROTTING HORSE. 



CHAPTEK XXYI. 



THE MORNING OF THE RACE PRELIMINARIES — STARTING 



AND SCORING GOING FOR THE HEAT WHAT TO DO 



BETWEEN HEATS — COOLING OUT WHAT TO DO IF THE 



HORSE DOES NOT COOL OUT PROPERLY, AND IS DIS- 

 TRESSED — STIMULANTS FEEDING IN A RACE HAYF 



EVERY THING READY BEFOREHAND MUD SHOES — 



ATTEND TO BUSINESS, AND AVOID TRICKS — LAYING UP 

 HEATS DRIVING REQUIRES NATURAL FITNESS — JUDG- 

 MENT OF PACE THE STEADY HORSE HAS THE ADVAN- 

 TAGE THE EXIGENCIES OF A HEAT KEEP COOL, AND 



STAY WITH YOUR HORSES. 



The night before the race and the morning of race- 

 day give the horse his usual feed. After breakfast jog 

 him three or four miles. After coming in from the jog 

 give him a little water and a light feed of hay that he 

 will eat up clean. I do not like muzzles, as I have 

 said, but if you have a "gormandizer'' you can now 

 muzzle for a little while, and leave him alone to rest. 

 If he is a ^ntlemanly and dainty horse, that is above 

 chewing his bedding, the muzzle is not, of course, neces- 

 sary. About eleven o'clock give him his usual dinner, 

 and about one you can take him out and jog a couple of 

 miles ; then drive him a good strong mile, at some 

 point opening him right up, to see that he has his 

 speed. By the time you have cooled him out the hour 

 for the race will have arrived, and if it is your first 



