62 THE LIFE OF A RACEHORSR 



coming strngglc. After a gentle canter, by way of " clearing 

 the pijies," the signal was given, and off I jumped, led by 

 York's Cardinal as usual, for a spin of four miles. Lightly but 

 warmly clothed, and ridden by Spanky, I swejot along in the 

 wake of my leader at a strong pace, pulling with might 

 and main to mend it; but our respective riders knew the 

 necessity of strictly obeying John Sellusall's orders, and they 

 were — " not to rattle us along." Upon the completion of the 

 allotted task, which I accomplished with the greatest satisfaction 

 to my owner and friends assembled, I was stopped, stripped, 

 scraped, and rubbed ; and so terminated my last sweat before 

 going to the post for the great event. The following day I did 

 nothing but walking exercise, but the next our head lad Avas 

 put M]), and again I was set going, my gallop coming under the 

 definition of " good and steady." The day prior to the great 

 race I took a gentle canter after a walk of some duration, and 

 upon returning to my stable was made sensible of the finishing 

 touches of the final preparation. A reduction of hay and 

 water took place, the go-downs of the latter being counted to 

 an even three dozen by John Sellusall liimself The usual 

 measure of corn, however, was not lessened ; but the quantity 

 of hay was confined to little more than a double handful. At 

 night, the water was still further reduced to twenty-four go- 

 downs, and upon eating my full feed of corn a mere lock of the 

 sweetest hay was offered to me. Our tra,iner, with Spanky 

 standing a little in the rear with the setting-muzzle ready in 

 hand, then commenced a minute examination of my state and 

 condition. He first looked at my eyes and mouth, then num- 

 bered the pulsations of my heart, watched the calm — as I 

 knew — working of my flank, and felt my legs and feet with 

 the nicest care. Spanky and Harry Dale continued watching 

 him with the fixed attitude of a coujile of statues ; but the 

 interest entertained by them in the proceeding might be learned 

 from the eagerness of theii* riveted looks. 



John Sellusall said not a word, but drawing back the angles 

 of his mouth, there was the parenthesis, strongly marked as of 

 old. With a pointed finger he telegraphed for Spanky to adjust 



