376 TRAINING GROOM CONVERSING 



hitherto had in the stables have been capable of 

 doing; yet there is no harm in my putting all 

 three of you on your guard just now f^because, 

 from what the two two-year olds that you, Sam 

 and Bill, look after, have been doing here in 

 their private trials, I have rather a good opinion 

 of them, but particularly of your's, Sam." Who 

 in reply may say — " I do not know what my 

 colt may do in public, but I am sure he is the 

 fastest I was ever on the back of in private: he 

 has always hitherto, in the running of his trials, 

 beat every thing he has been tried with, without 

 my ever having had occasion to call upon him to 

 come; all I have had to do, when riding him, has 

 been to sit still on him, and keep a good steady 

 hold of his head ; he then appears to me to go 

 quite away from his horses with great ease; so I 

 do not think it is known yet how fast he can run." 

 The trainer, in addressing the boy who looks 

 after the second-best colt, and who has ridden 

 him in public, says — " I have not a bad opinion 

 of that colt of your's. Bill." And he would pro- 

 bably reply — " I like my colt very well ; I know 

 he is not as fast as Sam's, but he can come well 

 home ; I do not care what running any party of 

 horses may make that my colt is running with ; and 

 the earlier they begin to do so, the better for my 



