432 HORSE POETEAITUEE. 



other, you can depend that they are under the impression 

 that their own horse is the best. They have heard enough 

 of Never Mind to enable them to bring him into the bet- 

 ting, and while they have full faith in beating him, have 

 so far kept him up in the pools, in hopes that the out- 

 siders would continue the support, and that they would 

 thus get more money than if he had only been suffered to 

 bring the small price the others go for. When they dis- 

 cover that your chances are favorable to win, they will 

 play into each others' hand, and by driving one horse at 

 you part of the time, and laying the other one up, get the 

 benefit of a comparatively fresh horse, which will make 

 the task more arduous for you. These tactics will not 

 probably be inaugurated till after the first heat, when we 

 can also better determine the course to pursue. If this 

 black fellow was only a few seconds faster, how I would 

 like to see them cut and slash at him ! That would just 

 suit, him by keeping him alive to the size of the job he 

 had on hand. There will be time enough, however, to 

 adopt a suitable defence when we see the plan of attack. 

 I see that you have taken a wise precaution in bringing 

 Mavourneen to keep Never Mind company, as a little ir- 

 ritation or fretting would be injurious. The boys had 

 better take off the clothes, and give the horses a light brisk 

 brushing, one or two swallows oi water, and two quarts 

 of grain* When they have eaten this, put the muzzles on, 

 and do not permit them to be disturbed until an hour 

 previous to the time to start. At that time, give a pint of 

 grain, so that they will not think their customary feed has 

 been neglected, have the harness placed on them, the 

 sulky wheels taken off, the spindles carefully cleaned 

 and oiled, and a rigid scrutiny observed to see that 

 everything is right. These duties, together with hav- 

 ing all that will be needed ready to go on the track the 

 moment the signal is given, must be attended to, as I 



