48 FLAT-RAGING EXPLAINED. 



could do on English horses. With some few excep- 

 tions the running of the American horses during 

 the season to which I refer was a little disappoint- 

 ing. The explanation given was that they were 

 unused to our English grass tracks, but for my part 

 I did not think the horses were by any means fully 

 acclimatized. For all that, these two jockeys put 

 in some smart riding, and under the watch made 

 our English style look comparatively small. They 

 rode as Sloan always rides, viz., fo time, a method 

 which makes a visible impression when the win- 

 ning-post is reached, for, instead of being on a 

 beaten horse, there is generally plenty left to finish 

 with, and most likely something to spare. 



With reference to the riding-seat of the jockeys 

 I have mentioned, and to which so much excep- 

 tion is taken, I have personally not been a little 

 surprised its advantages have not been more read- 

 ily recognized. Never having seen the style of rid- 

 ing put to practical test before the American 

 jockeys introduced it here, I cannot be accused of 

 being unduly influenced in its favor; but feeling 

 convinced that riding in the way these jockeys 

 did there was reason for it, and that, too, on proba- 

 bly substantial grounds, I was soon able to dis 

 cover its meaning. It must be quite understood I 

 cjo not enter into the pontroversy whiph jtook place 



