194 



and he will be less likely to swerve and stagger than 

 by the partially one-sided action of the switch. If 

 it is discovered that the colt cannot win, he should 

 never be forced to accomplish that which is impossible 

 by punishing him. It is then where the barbarity 

 comes in which should always be avoided. Many a 

 hot-headed, impetuous fool will push and punish his 

 mount most unmercifully and unnecessarily, when, at 

 best, he is neither more nor less than a lamentably 

 *'bad third." Such a rider — whether gentleman or 

 professional — is utterly unworthy the name of 

 *' jockey," and is a discredit to the national and 

 ''orthodox silk" which he wears; and if he does 

 not bring the hooting of the spectators down upon 

 his head, it is because tJieir sense of courtesy out- 

 weighs his feelings of humanity. There is an excuse 

 for a rider making a vigorous effort to secure a 

 "■ second place," because not only is it an honourable 

 position, but in many races the second horse " saves 

 his stake," and sometimes a good deal more. 



FLEETNESS AND STAYING POWERS. 



It is said that ''a beautiful soul never inhabits a 

 beautiful body," and so it is in the case of horses 

 (only these quadrupeds are not credited by orthodox 

 thinkers with the possession of souls, though the late 

 Major Whyte Melville in the famous old hunting 

 song, " The Place where the Old Horse Died," ex- 

 presses a very beautiful idea in the following lines ; — 



