RACING 197 



again — very likely he will — and perhaps you 

 will win after all, but it is quite certain he 

 cannot win if you press him at that moment. 

 Choose your ground in a steeplechase, walking- 

 over it carefully before the race, noting the 

 easiest galloping ground ; a foot or two more 

 or less in a fence makes no difference, but a 

 bit of ground where your horse can gallop 

 on the top will often win a race at the end. 

 The horse that has had those few strides of 

 good ground often has just that much left in 

 him at the end to make an effort with. Lastly, 

 if you are riding for any one else, ride strictly 

 to orders. The owner or trainer ought to 

 know best what will enable his horse to win 

 the race. Well do I remember a race in 

 which a certain gentleman rider was ordered 

 to wait till the distance post, and then to collar 

 the horse supposed to have the speed of his 

 mount, but not believed to have the best heart 

 in the world. Whether the rider mistook 

 another post for the distance, or whether he 

 thought he knew best, I cannot say, but at 

 all events he began to race a quarter of a mile 

 from home, and was beaten on the post by a 

 head in consequence. The owner might have 

 been mistaken, no doubt, but the rider was 

 justly blamed for losing the race. 



One more counsel I have to eive. To ride 



