OWNERS AND TRAINERS. 39 



so far as the welfare of the horses is concerned, but 

 there are endless duties both before racing begins, 

 during its progress, and when it has ended, all of 

 which, in detail. I do not venture, in the capacity of 

 the present work, to enlarge upon. 



But, after all, perhaps the most anxious time a 

 trainer has is in the daily work associated with the 

 direction and management of a large stud, what 

 with various horses all differing in iDcculiarities and 

 characteristics incidental to age, degrees of sound- 

 ness, and maybe, countless infirmities. All claim 

 his attention with unvarying regularity from early 

 morning till stable duties are brought down to the 

 time when the horses are done up for the night, and 

 the lads and all concerned are thankful to retire to 

 rest. 



With a big team, it is a serious business to parcel 

 out the worki which has to be done in view of imme- 

 diate or distant engagements. Every horse's prepa- 

 ration must needs be applicable to the requirements 

 of the horse itself. Those requirements depend on 

 a variety of circumstances, all destined to satisfy 

 the wishes of the employer and the policy to be pur- 

 sued. , 



About these affairs there is in some instances 

 much secrecy to be observed, and the trainer is fre- 

 quently the depository of that which is estimated, on 

 lines suggestive in many cases of preposterous sig- 



