DBIVIKG TO EULE. 433 



understand the managers have signified their intention of 

 having the rules scrupulously enforced. Fifteen minutes 

 before three, the bell will sound to call you out. You will 

 have that length of time to warm up, and as soon as the 

 watch shows that the advertised hour has come, the horses 

 ready will be started, and if there are laggards, they will 

 be left behind. I have seen so many bad consequences 

 result from delaying the time of starting, that I am glad 

 they have come to the conclusion to be thus punctual. 

 Five minutes will disqualify, and when once places are 

 drawn for, no entry that has delayed making an appear- 

 ance will gain admission. You can depend on Tom and 

 Con keeping a strict watch that no one can obtain access 

 to the horses, so we will walk around the track, in order 

 that you may become as familiar with all its features as 

 there is any necessity for. 



PUPIL. Here is a place which cannot be seen from the 

 judges' stand, and though the distance is short, something 

 might be gained by allowing a horse to "take a few jumps" 

 that would help him. 



PRECEPTOR. My plan has always been to drive strictly 

 to rule, and while I took no undue advantage over my op- 

 ponents, I took care that they should obtain none over 

 me. At this point they may endeavor to interfere with 

 you, one of them carrying you clear to the outside, while 

 the other gets as great a lead as he can. Eunning would 

 be rather dangerous, as a horse even if a good breaker 

 is sometimes a little crochety, and might loose more in 

 recovering than he gained, and should a horse emerge 

 from the shadow in a run, the judges would be very apt 

 to conclude that it was intentional on the part of the 

 driver, which would subject him to the penalty of a dis- 

 tance. The track is certainly in good order for making 

 fast time, and though the afternoon will be warm, the air 

 is not oppressive yet, and I do not think it likely to be- 



