HORSES 33 



foolish practice of holding them back and "waiting," 

 as it is termed, they are allowed to travel through- 

 out at high speed, the only difference made being 

 that, at a given point, when they are getting toward 

 the end of a "burst" (say a half-furlong sliort of the 

 known distance they can stay), they are pulled sud- 

 denly up, as though to stop. This momentary ac- 

 tion on the part of the jockey recharges the lungs, 

 when the horse will continue the struggle with re- 

 newed vigor, and will be found to go on and com- 

 plete another "burst." 



In this way "sprinters," or sli'oi"t-distance horses, 

 can be raced over long distances, provided, of course, 

 proper care is used and the method of "hanging 

 back" and "waiting" is not pursued. When a horse 

 is suddenly" pulled up to reinflate the lungs, as I 

 have siaid, it should be when he is well up in tlie 

 race; and if done with skill, it will not only be un- 

 perceived, but a horse need not lose an inch of 

 ground in the process. But even supposing he does 

 lose a little ground, it will be made up afterwai'd, 

 not merely once, but many times over, by the time 

 the winning-post is reached, should sufficient room 

 be given for the purpose. 



It should here be noted it was thought at one time 

 to convert that splendid miler, Victor Wild, into 

 y^hat is called a "cup horse," and in furtherance of 



