54 FLAT-RACING EXPLAINED. 



crtiou that is to come. If the exertion is not acute, 

 ihe air passes out of the lungs, and is replenished 

 at will. When, however, the exertion becomes sud- 

 denly acute, as in jumping off and galloping on at 

 high pressure, the stock of air with which the lungs 

 are charged exhausts, in proportion to the poAver 

 of retention a horse may possess, pending the oppor- 

 tunity of replenishing the lungs, and through the 

 lungs the entire system, with a new supply. 



As a horse is only able to gallop so long as the 

 lungs remain charged with air, it must always be 

 a question with all horses when running at higli 

 speed how long this supply will last. That horses 

 differ to a large extent in lung capacity is well 

 known, but it must not be overlooked it is duration 

 of time, rather than rate of sx)eed, that must always 

 determine the maximum extent of a horse's poAvers. 

 In this respect a curious fact arises, and as it is 

 indisputable, I cannot too strongly impress it upon 

 jockeys, as well as upon all persons interested in 

 racing. It is this — and I have constantly found it 

 to be so — a horse having won a five or six furlong 

 race in very fast time, finishing full of running, 

 when again running over the same ground, under 

 the same conditions, and some three or four sec- 

 onds longer time is taken in the duration of the 

 race, has not only figured among the beaten horses, 

 but pulled up very much distressed. Hprsjffs al- 



