230 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



lars concerning the Orloff horse and the methods 

 of breeding, training and driving in that coun- 

 try. He states that 



The entries for the races are according to age qualifica- 

 tions, except those for horses past six years old, which are free 

 for all. The heats are never less than three versts, and the 

 deciding heat is at the same distance. In races of four and 

 one-half versts the deciding heat is at three versts. Races 

 of six and twelve versts are decided in one heat. The first 

 prize is not given to the horse that comes in first in the race, 

 but in the deciding heat. The number of horses entered in 

 each race is unlimited, but they are started three at a time, 

 and the two horses out of the entire number of starters that 

 trot the distance in the least time, according to the watch, 

 take part in the deciding heat. If the horse winning in the 

 first trial comes in second in the second trial then a third 

 heat settles the question of supremacy. Only two moneys 

 are given. There are 'three tracks, of oval shape, inclosed 

 one within the other, one for each horse. The outer is one 

 and a half versts (one mile) long; the two others are shorter, 

 one by twelve sagenes (eighty-four feet) and the other by 

 twenty-three sagenes (161 feet). The first horse is started 

 on the exterior track, in front of the stand, and the two 

 others, in order to equalize the distance, are started in the 

 rear, on their respective tracks, which are selected by lot. 



The horses come up at a jog, each one to his place. A 

 judge is placed beside each horse whose duty it is, by waving 

 a bit of cloth, to notify the starter, who is in the stand, that 

 the horse under his charge has arrived at his position. The 

 horses are started from the stand by the stroke of a bell, 

 which sets in motion at the same time the hands of a great 

 dial which marks minutes and seconds. At the instant the 

 first horse passes the winning score the judge strikes a blow 

 which stops the first hand of the dial, and in the same way 

 for the second horse. This automatic system gives the time 

 of the race, by means of the clock, without error, and enables 

 the judge, who is placed at the distance post to decide which 



